Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah’s brother Ajay Shah joined the Congress on Tuesday.
Since, the Minister had been lobbying for him seeking BJP ticket from Betul lok Sabha constituency; it is believed that the whole Shah family was behind the decision taken by Ajay Shah. Party sources claimed that Vijay Shah is known for playing pressure politics.
In the year 2008, he has been demanding ticket for his younger brother Sanjay Shah from Timarni assembly constituency. When he was denied ticket, he contested as an independent candidate and emerged victorious. In the last Assembly polls, Vijay Shah succeeded in getting BJP ticket for Sanjay from Timarni and at present he is a BJP legislator.
Besides, Vijay Shah also succeeded in getting party ticket for his wife in the civic body polls and his wife Bhawana Shah is at present the Mayor of Khandwa. last year, when Shah was sacked from the Shivraj Cabinet, Vijay Shah had convened a public meeting in his constituency and told publicly that he was not sacked; he kicked the post of minister for the welfare of his people.
The Shah family belongs to the Makdai riyasat in Harda district and has influence in the whole region. It is believed that any decision regarding family member is taken unanimously by the whole family. While talking to mediapersons, Ajay Shah stated that there are some issues which the BJP was not ready to address, but he did not clarify as why he joined the Congress.
He told categorically that he never supported the BJP, right from his childhood, he has seen his family in the BJP. However, apparently, he seems annoyed with the BJP, as his candidature from Betul was not accepted. Meanwhile, State BJP organisational general secretary Arvind Menon summoned Minister Vijay Shah and he reached the BJP headquarters to clarify his point of view regarding the political development.