Congress Chhattisgarh President Ram Dayal Uike joins BJP ahead of state elections

In what came as a major setback for Rahul Gandhi’s Congress, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) Working President and INC leader Ram Dayal Uike has dumped Congress party and joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. The Pali-Tanakhar MLA joined as a BJP leader in the presence of BJP President Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh.

BJP President Amit Shah was on his two-day visit to Chhattisgarh ahead of the elections in the state, where he met Ram Dayal Uike. The CPCC President later expressed his desire to join BJP. While Chhattisgarh MLA Uike has been a member of Congress party since 18 years in the state, he was a BJP leader before joining Congress 18 years ago.

READ: ''Chhattisgarh Witnessed Historic Development Under Raman Singh'' Says Piyush Goyal

Now as he joined BJP ahead of the polls in Chhattisgarh, the political landscape in the state is surely going to witness major changes. There have been no comments from Congress yet on this development. 

Days before this, Election Commission of India had announced the poll schedules for the states of Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana during a press briefing in New Delhi. Chhattisgarh is all set to go on polls in two phases. The election dates are as follows:

• Phase 1: 12th November 
• Phase 2: 20th November
   

READ: Here's The Full Election Schedule For Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana

This has come after Union Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal lauded Chhattisgarh CM and BJP leader Raman Singh for 'leading the state on a path of historical development'. Goyal also highlighted the efforts made by the chief minister for the welfare of the state.

Goyal said, "The state of Chhattisgarh today is the biggest contributor in the power sector through which people of the whole country get the benefit of electricity. Chief Minister Raman Singh has today paved way for development projects worth Rs 6000 crore for the welfare of the people''.