2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Gourav Vallabh leaves Congress and joins BJP, Bihar Congress' ex-chief Anil Sharma and Sanjay Nirupam also quit Congress

In what can be seen as big jolt to the Indian National Congress (INC), its spokesperson Gourav Vallabh left the grand old party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday (April 4, 2024). Not just Vallabh, but Bihar Congress' ex-president Anil Sharma also jumped on the bandwagon and joined the BJP on Thursday. Meanwhile, senior leader from Maharashtra, Sanjay Nirupam, has also left the Congress party. 

After joining the BJP, Gourav Vallabh said in his address to media, "I posted a letter in the morning on various social media platforms...In the letter, I wrote all the pains of my heart. It has been my view from the starting that the temple of Lord Shri Ram (in Ayodhya) should be built. An invitation was received and the Congress rejected it, I cannot accept it...The leaders of the alliance raised questions on Sanatana. Why was the Congress not responding to it? I joined the BJP today and hope to use my ability and knowledge to take India forward."

Just a day ago, Olympic medallist boxer Vijender Singh, who contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on a Congress ticket from the South Delhi seat, also joined the BJP.

Vallabh, who is also a professor of economics at XLRI, wrote on X that he was not comfortable with the Congress' ways and couldn't raise ant-Sanatan slogans.

कांग्रेस पार्टी आज जिस प्रकार से दिशाहीन होकर आगे बढ़ रही है,उसमें मैं ख़ुद को सहज महसूस नहीं कर पा रहा.मैं ना तो सनातन विरोधी नारे लगा सकता हूं और ना ही सुबह-शाम देश के वेल्थ क्रिएटर्स को गाली दे सकता.इसलिए मैं कांग्रेस पार्टी के सभी पदों व प्राथमिक सदस्यता से इस्तीफ़ा दे रहाहूं pic.twitter.com/Xp9nFO80I6

— Prof. Gourav Vallabh (@GouravVallabh) April 4, 2024

Gourav Vallabh wrote on X: "I am not able to feel comfortable with the directionless way in which the Congress Party is moving ahead today. I can neither raise anti-Sanatan slogans nor abuse the wealth creators of the country in the morning and evening. That is why I I am resigning from all posts and primary membership of Congress Party."

#WATCH | Delhi: Former Congress leader Gourav Vallabh joins BJP, in the presence of BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde. pic.twitter.com/NAc0kX22vW

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2024