Former Congress MP and Gujjar leader Avtar Singh Bhadana today joined the BJP and met party chief Amit Shah, who welcomed him into the party fold.
The four-time MP from Faridabad had only six months ago quit the Congress and joined the INLD ahead of Haryana Assembly elections.
Bhadana had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, with whom he shares personal ties.
"Prime Minister Modi's thoughts and politics has always impressed me and I am joining the BJP to take forward his mission of making India strong and take the country forward by making it corruption-free and by uplifting the poor," he told PTI.
Bhadana joined the BJP in the presence of Shah and BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ram Lal, besides Union Ministers Ananth Kumar and Birender Singh and the party's Haryana unit president Subhash Barala.
Lauding Modi's efforts, he said his actions have already led to uplifting the country's image in the eyes of the world and the youth and poor have their hopes pinned on the Prime Minister in their upliftment.
He added that the BJP has accorded all respects to him and he would strive hard to strengthen the party and take Modi's mission forward.
The veteran Gujjar leader will also campaign for the BJP candidates in Delhi Assembly polls.
Bhadana was Minister of Local-Self Government (Independent Charge) in Haryana for about six months in 1988 and had quit Congress in August last year accusing the party high command of not taking any action against those responsible for the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.
He was elected for the first time to Lok Sabha in 1991.
