In New Delhi/Ahmedabad, Rohan Gupta, a former Congress spokesperson, made headlines as he transitioned to the BJP on Thursday, signaling the defection of a notable opposition figure to the ruling party during the election season.
Gupta, accompanied by other figures, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the esteemed company of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and BJP’s national general secretary Vinod Tawde. He criticized his former party for straying from its core beliefs, including nationalism and adherence to Sanatan Dharma.
Also present at the event were former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Parampal Kaur, who recently resigned from her post, her spouse Gurpreet Singh Maluka—son of Shiromani Akali Dal veteran Sikander Singh Maluka—and Youth Congress leader Jahanzaib Sirwal. They joined the ruling party, commending India’s ascent under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Gupta had previously declined the Congress candidacy for the Ahmedabad East Lok Sabha seat, a stronghold of the BJP, and subsequently resigned from the party. He cited “constant humiliation and character assassination” from a Congress communication department affiliate as the reason for his departure, hinting at a conflict with Jairam Ramesh, the general secretary overseeing the party’s communications.
Gupta, whose name includes “Ram,” spoke out against the Congress’s silence when Sanatan Dharma faced disrespect. He criticized those who lacked electoral experience yet shaped the party’s vision.
The former head of Congress’s social media accused the party of shifting towards the Left. He noted the party’s mixed stance on the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict, which allowed for a Ram temple construction but saw the party skip the temple’s dedication.
Gupta highlighted the Congress’s positions on various topics, including its opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and alignment with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to emphasize his point.
Gupta voiced his endorsement of the BJP’s vision for a “viksit Bharat” by 2047 and praised Modi’s aspirations. Recently, Gourav Vallabh, another former Congress spokesperson, also aligned with the BJP.
The other three leaders expressed admiration for Modi’s leadership, citing India’s growing global influence and development. Tawde noted that their presence would enhance the BJP’s strength.
Sirwal claimed that the BJP had eradicated “political brokerage” in Jammu and Kashmir, while Maluka emphasized his decision to join the saffron party for Punjab’s progress.
Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi remarked that Gupta’s loyalty to the BJP was evident when he declined the Lok Sabha poll ticket offered by Congress.
“Gupta has long been unofficially aligned with the BJP. We were aware of his game, using Congress to gain prestige and wealth before betraying the party,” Doshi alleged.
“We were aware of his true intentions from the start. Offering him an election bid revealed everything. Now, he merely echoes the script provided by the BJP,” the Congress leader commented.
Gupta had previously stated his withdrawal from the Ahmedabad East race was influenced by his ailing father’s insistence. Gupta mentioned his father refused ICU treatment due to a panic attack unless his demands were met. In 2004, Gupta’s father lost the Lok Sabha elections from Ahmedabad as a Congress candidate.