A host of leaders from national and regional parties have lined up to embrace the BJP, seen by most of the opinion polls as the front-runner to form a government at the Centre.
Apart from former Union Minister Purandeshwari — daughter of founder of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) NT Rama Rao — senior Congress MP from Uttar Pradesh Jagdambika Pal is also knocking at BJP’s door. Pal resigned from the Congress and the lok Sabha on Friday.
Sitting MP of the Samajwadi Party from Kaiserganj Brij Bhushan Saran Singh also quit the party and from the lok Sabha membership, in what is seen as precursor to joining the BJP. In addition, Kameshwar Baitha, JMM MP from the Palamu, joined the BJP on Thursday. RJD MP Ram Kripal Yadav, miffed at being denied the party ticket from Patliputra seat, is also likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Purandeshwari is expected to be inducted in the BJP in a couple of days. Husband of Purandeshwari — Daggubati Venkateshwara Rao — is one of the two sons-in-law of NT Rama Rao, the other being N Chandrababu Naidu. Both of them had played a pivotal role in the party till they parted ways after Naidu led a revolt against NT Rama Rao in 1995.
later Daggubati Venkateshwara Rao and wife Purandeshwari joined the Congress and got elected to the State Assembly and lok Sabha respectively. Daggubati Purandeshwari went on to become a Union Minister.