Congress extends olive branch to BJP MP Sonaram
BARMER: The trend of defection is picking up as Lok Sabha elections are coming closer. The ruling Congress, in Barmer constituency, has extended an olive branch to the sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, Col Sonaram Chaudhary.
Revenue minister Harish Choudhary said Congress is the only suitable place for Sonaram where he can get “desired respect”.
Choudhary was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here in Barmer on Sunday. His statement has triggered speculations that Sonaram will return to Congress.
Recently, the BJP MP had tried to meet chief minister Ashok Gehlot at the Circuit House in Jodhpur. Even though Sonaram was unable to meet the CM, there is a buzz in the political circle that he might return to Congress.
Despite repeated efforts Sonaram was not available for any comment.
Senior journalist and political observer Vijay Sharma said the “meeting of opponent leaders should not be taken lightly”. He said Harish Choudhary and Col. Sonaram Choudhary are considered opponents in the state political circle.
Also, Sonaram is considered the strongest critic of CM Gehlot. Despite this, when opponents are shaking hands, it is indicating that something is going on, said Sharma.
The senior journalist had in May last year said during the Congress ‘Shakti Sammelan’ that Choudhary had welcomed Sonaram and Manvendra Singh (who was BJP legislature at that time) into Congress.
According to Sharma, at that time Choudhary’s statement was taken as routine statement, but in September last year, Manvendra quit BJP and a month later, he joined Congress. Sharma said the timing of Choudhary’s statement was significant.
BJP district president Dilip Paliwal said that he was not aware about any such development. Paliwal said: “BJP has given all due respect to Colonel Sonaram Choudhary. Despite this, switching party would be his personal decision.”
Three-time MP and one-time MLA from Congress, Sonaram has switched to BJP ahead of general election in 2014. BJP had refused ticket to veteran leader Jaswant Singh and fielded Sonaram from Barmer constituency.
In last assembly elections, Sonaram stack his claim for Barmer assembly seat. Sonaram, who assured BJP with tall claims that “only he could win the Barmer seat”, faced the worst defeat. He lost by over 30,000 votes.
Sharma said after facing the worst defeat, perhaps Sonaram himself felt that there are very less chances that BJP would bet on him in 2019, and considering this, he has started resorting to pressure politics. He had practised the same tactics ahead of assembly elections when he shared the dais with BJP’S rebel Hanuman Beniwal.