Jyotiraditya Scindia joins BJP and says his dreams were shattered in Congress

• Jyotiraditya Scindia joins Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of BJP national president J P Nadda today (March 11).
• This Holi surprise came in after Scindia met Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (March 10) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.
  
• Following the meeting, Scindia released the letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi where he announced his exit, on March 9.
  

Jyotiraditya Scindia joined Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of BJP national president J P Nadda today (March 11). Soon after joining BJP, Scindia said his dreams were shattered in Congress providing an insight into the reasons behind jumping parties.

Scindia who lost his MP seat in 2019 election from Guna in Madhya Pradesh, ended his 18 year association with Congress party. This Holi-day surprise came in after Scindia met Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (March 10) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.

Following the meeting, Scindia released the letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi where he announced his exit, on March 9.

Shortly after his resignation, 19 Congress MLAs sent their letters of resignation and Raj Bhavan sources said 22 MLAs had already resigned by 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday - leading the Kamal Nath-led Madhya Pradesh government into a crisis mode.

'Ominous phase' forced BJP to postpone Scindia's induction

The stage was set and decks were cleared for Jyotiraditya Scindia's induction into the BJP at 12.30 p.m., but no leaders turned up at the given time. Sources say the induction has been delayed due to the "Rahu Kal", a phase considered ominous. On Wednesday afternoon, the BJP media cell sent a message that read, "An Eminent personality will join the BJP in the presence of BJP National President Shri J.P. Nadda today (Wednesday) March 11, 12:30 p.m. at BJP HQ, 6 A, DDU Marg, New Delhi." Whenever, a high profile joining takes place, the BJP media cell refers to them as 'eminent citizens'.

But at 12.30 p.m., with a packed media auditorium, none of the BJP leaders turned up and neither did Scindia. While it was speculated that the Lok Sabha which was in session, to be the reason, soon it too got adjourned. Yet none of the BJP leaders turned up.Sources in the BJP suggest that the BJP was told later about the Rahu Kal, an ominous phase, that starts at 12.30 p.m. Hence, the party which is very sensitive to such astrological findings, decided to postpone it by an hour and thirty minutes, till the phase was over.

Scindia comes home to his BJP roots

While it was an unexpected turn for the 49-year-old who had been with Congress party for 18 years, it could also be termed a homecoming for the former royals of Gwalior. In fact, it would end the political divide that is a part of the family.

Scindia’s aunt and former minister in a BJP-led government in the state earlier, Yashodhara Raje Scindia is overjoyed at the move. "He must have taken the decision keeping the face of Rajmata in mind," she said. The youngest daughter of Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia of Gwalior said that this "new chapter" will respect the "aspirations" of people.

Another aunt of his, Vasundhara Raje was also the former CM of Rajasthan and a part of BJP

The immensely influential and popular family had chosen politics after they British-era rule ended. Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, the grandmother of Jyotiraditya Scindia was a part of the Jan Sangh, the predecessor of BJP in its current form. She was also a co-founder of the Saffron party that is in power at the Centre today.

The Queen mother who was against Congress

Rajmata Scindia joined the Bharatiya Jan Sangh before after a short stint in the C. Rajagopalachari-led Swatantra Party, which too was formed as a revolt against Jawaharlal Nehru. Since then, she has always been anti-Congress and was even sent to jail during the emergency period in the 1970s, declared by former PM Indira Gandhi.

Out of her four daughters and a son, three had become popular in politics -- Madhavrao Scindia, the father of Jyotiraditya Scindia; Vasundhara Raje and Yashodhara Raje. Madhavrao Scindia, the father of Jyotiradita Sciendia too started his political career via Jan Sangh, but soon deviated to Congress before trying his hands as an independent.

Since the 1980s, Madhavrao Scindia became a part of the Congress family. At one point, he became so powerful that he even challenged Sonia Gandhi on her foreign origin. Sadly, he met an untimely death in a plane crash in September 2001.

Ever since, his son Jyotiraditya Scindia took his place in Madhya Pradesh politics. However, many political pundits believe that he was under a "shadow" of Rahul Gandhi, the former president of the party. It could have been one of the many issues that led to his exit.


See also:
Former Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia to join the BJP at the party headquarters