Double setback to Congress: After Tom Vadakkan, Haryana senior leader Arvind Sharma joins BJP

Former Congress leader from Haryana and ex-Karnal MP Arvind Sharma has joined the BJP. His induction happened at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.
 

The entry of Sharma is a double blow to the Congress as on Thursday, in a huge embarrassment for the Congress, Tom Vadakkan quit the party and joined the BJP. He was inducted by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and then later meeting BJP chief Amit Shah.

Vadakkan had lamented numerous facets about the Congress party in the hours after his joining the BJP. 

WATCH | EXCLUSIVE: 'Defended Enough, Won't Anymore', Says Tom Vadakkan After Joining BJP From Congress

Tom Vadakkan had been the National communication Secretary for the Indian National Congress.

He was considered a close aide of UPA chairperson and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi. While welcoming him to the BJP, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Vadakkan "had decided to join the BJP after getting impressed by the policy programs of Narendra Modi and equally getting disenchanted by the Congress party. He is most welcome." 

Congress president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Tom Vadakkan who joined the BJP on Thursday after over two decades at the Congress, citing among other things the questioning of India's armed forces by his former party as a reason for his exit.

"Vadakkan? Nahi Nahi, Vadakkan bade leader nahi hain (No no, Vadakkan is not a big leader)", said Rahul Gandhi to reporters when asked for his comment on the former long-time Gandhi loyalist and Congress secretary's departure and consequent induction into the rival party.

WATCH THIS: "Vadakkan? No No, Vadakkan Isn't A Big Leader", Says Rahul Gandhi Taking A Swipe At Long-time Congress Loyalist Tom Vadakkan For Joining BJP