12 rebel MLAs, 3 BJP leaders to join Congress in presence of Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to Rajasthan

In a political development from Rajasthan, 12 rebel Congress MLAs will be rejoining the party today. 

Amongst these rebels rejoining Congress Alok Beniwal, Baljeet Yadav, Suresh Tak, Sanyam Lodha, Khush Veer Singh, Ramkesh Meena, Mahadev Singh Khandela, Kanti Meena, 
Ramlia Khariya, Rajkumar Gaur won the Assembly elections by fighting independently.

The 12 rebels are known to re-join the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party in his presence.

Apart from them, former BJP leader Surendra Goyal, a BJP corporator and current mayor of Jaipur Vishnu Lata and Ghanshyam Tiwari, another former BJP leader have hopped onto the Congress ship from BJP. 

WATCH: Massive Controversy As Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh Says, "all Of Us Are BJP Workers"

Congress president Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Rajasthan Tuesday for a day during which he is slated to address two poll campaign rallies, besides a meeting of his party workers.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi during his address said that a "surgical strike" against poverty will be carried out through minimum income guarantee "nyuntam aay yojana (NYAY)" promised by him if his party is voted to power at the Centre.

"In the 21st century, India will define a 'minimum income line' and no one should live below this line. With this intention, we came up with NYAY. It will be a 'surgical strike' against poverty in the country. If the Narendra Modi government can give money to the rich, we can do it for the poor. 20 per cent of the poorest families of the country will be entitled to up to Rs 72,000 per year," he said at a rally here.

Accusing BJP of adopting an anti-poor approach, Gandhi said that the ruling party at the Centre wanted to "destroy the poor", while Congress wants to "destroy poverty".

Earlier, taking a jibe at the BJP's 'Mein Bhi Chowkidar' campaign, Rahul Gandhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not inform the people that he would be the 'chowkidar' (watchman) not for the entire country, but for businessmen like Anil Ambani and Nirav Modi.

"He (the Prime Minister) says, 'Main Chowkidaar Hoon' (I am a watchman). He did not say whose chowkidar he is? Have you seen a chowkidar at a farmer's home? Have you seen a chowkidar at home of the unemployed youth?" he said at a public rally here. 

Gandhi said that the ensuing Lok Sabha elections will be a fight between two ideologies.

"In the last five years, Narendra Modi has created two Indias. One belongs to the rich and the other is for the poor, farmers and unemployed youth. In Narendra Modi's India, only the rich can see the dreams but not the poor."

"This will be a fight between two ideologies. One is the BJP-RSS ideology that promotes hatred and division and the other is Congress, which stands for brotherhood and love," added.

READ| Congress To Repeat Victorious Performance In Rajasthan; Unanimity On Lok Sabha Candidates: Sachin Pilot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, deputy chief minister and Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot and other senior leaders of the party were present at the rally.

  

Rajasthan, which has 25 Lok Sabha seats, will go to polls in two phases. Elections on 13 seats will be held on April 29 and on remaining 12 seats on May 6.

(With ANI inputs)