Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today suffered a big blow as its State general secretary and president Hostel and Restaurant Association Katra, Rakesh Wazir joined Congress Party along with his supporters in presence of All India Congress Committee general secretary Ambika Soni (Incharge J&K) and PCC president G A Mir.
In a simple function held here this evening, Mr Wazir joined the Congress party and expressed his resolve to work for further strengthening the party in Katra-Reasi belt of Jammu region. Mr Wazir had contested Lok Sabha elections from Kathua-Udhampur-Doda seat on BSP ticket in 2009 and got good number of votes. He has also good impact in Udhampur and Nagrota segments.
His grandmother Nirmala Wazir remained MLA from Udhampur by defeating the then stalwart of BJP Lala Shiv Charan Gupta, the father of present MLA and former MoS Finance Pawan Gupta, and likewise, the Reasi Assembly constituency remained represented for long by his family ancestors including Bansi Lal Kohistani who remained MLA, MLC & Parliamentry Secretary by representing this constituency. He also unsuccessfully contested from Nagrota constituency twice.
Ambika Soni and GA Mir while welcoming Wazir in the party fold hoped that with his joining, the Congress party would be further strengthened in Nagrota, Katra-Reasi area.
Mr Wazir while speaking on the occasion said that his joining of Congress is a home coming for him. He said the people from his family remained in service to the country as MLA, MLC or on other positions. Since Congress is a party which remained associated and linked with his family even prior to his birth and so joining of that party is like coming back home for him. He said that like a true soldier of the party he will put all his energies for the betterment of the party.
Senior Congress leaders Nawang Rigzin Zora (CLP Leader), Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla, Shabir Ahmed Khan and G.M Saroori were also present.
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