Uttarakhand polls: Former Congress Dehradun chief joins BJP
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In a setback to the Congress ahead of the civic body polls in Uttarakhand, former president of the party's Dehradun unit, Prithviraj Chauhan has joined the BJP. Chauhan was said to be unhappy with the Congress leadership ever since it fielded former State Minister Dinesh Aggarwal for the mayor's seat in Dehradun, ignoring him. Civic body polls in Uttarakhand are slated for November 18.
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Three other Congress officials also joined BJP along with Chauhan
Chauhan joined the ruling BJP, along with a large number of supporters, at its state office in Dehradun yesterday. He joined in the presence of Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and other BJP officials. Along with Chauhan, former General Secretary of Congress' city unit Jitendra Bhatt, its former Vice President Kulbhushan Gusain and Congress Vyapar Mandal president Pankaj Mason too joined BJP yesterday.
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Chauhan's entry will strengthen the party: Uttarakhand CM
After joining BJP, Chauhan said he was impressed by Rawat's efforts to wipe out corruption. Welcoming the Congress leaders, Rawat said their entry will further strengthen the party. Uttarakhand BJP president Ajay Bhatt said party's doors were always open for people working for the public.