Arvinder Lovely, back in BJP, jabs Congress for 'tukde tukde' politics
Arvinder Lovely, back in BJP, jabs Congress for ‘tukde tukde’ politics
Arvinder Singh Lovely, who joined the BJP, days after quitting as Delhi Congress chief, on Saturday hit out at the Congress and accused it of practicing ‘tukde tukde’ politics.
Recalling former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s words that every drop of her blood was for her country, Lovely said the Congress deviated from its ideology of making sacrifices for the country.
“You know under what circumstances I resigned as Delhi Congress president. Our supporters told us you don’t have to sit at home. I had decided to stay at home after my resignation. We were told to fight for Delhi and for this country,” he told reporters.
“I joined Congress at the age of 18 and I joined BJP briefly (from 2017-18). Indira Gandhi had said that every drop of her blood was for the country. But, Congress has taken a turn from ‘katra katra’ (drop by drop) to ‘tukde tukde’,” he asserted.
Responding to a question from Aaj Tak/India Today on whether he would fight elections, Lovely said, “Had I had greed for any post, I wouldn’t have resigned as Delhi Congress chief. Had I had greed for a ticket, I would have resigned before the announcement of the ticket distribution.”
After his induction into the BJP earlier today, Lovely exuded confidence that the party would sweep all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and win the national polls.
“We have been given an opportunity to fight for the people of Delhi under the banner of BJP and under the leadership of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi). I have full hope and there is no doubt about it that the BJP government is being formed in the country with an overwhelming majority. In the coming days, the flag of the BJP will fly in Delhi too,” he said.
Along with Lovely, former Congress MLAs Raj Kumar Chauhan, Naseeb Singh, Neeraj Basoya, and former Youth Congress President Amit Malik also joined the BJP at the saffron party’s headquarters in the national capital.
In his resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely was critical of Kanhaiya Kumar, the party’s candidate from North East Delhi and North West Delhi nominee Udit Raj. He said both were total strangers to the Delhi Congress and party policies.
Lovely expressed his disappointment within the party ranks and said he felt “handicapped” as he was not able to work under the current system. He cited interference by the party’s general secretary in-charge and alliance with the AAP in Delhi as major friction points.
Under the seat-sharing pact, AAP will fight on four seats — South Delhi, New Delhi, West Delhi and East Delhi — and Congress three — Northwest Delhi, Northeast Delhi and Chandni Chowk.
Lok Sabha elections for seven seats of Delhi will be held on May 25.