In the midst of dissidence in BJP over poll nominations going to new entrants at the expense of party veterans, senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu today said politicians switching parties was not an ideal situation during poll season.
"People should see their conduct and history whether to encourage (them or not). But nowadays some people are changing parties at the last moment. This is not an ideal situation. I admit it," Naidu said when his opinion was sought on turncoats.
Told that BJP too had turncoats in its ranks, he said "maximum 10 to 15 have come from outside" in its quota of seats in the coming general elections.
Asked why it was necessary to take turncoats when BJP claims there was "Modi wave", he said "to increase the wave."
"There must be some special ground for the party to decide," Naidu said when asked why BJP took two turncoats in Jharkhand.
Hemlal Murmu and Bidyut Baran Mahto last week quit JMM and joined BJP and got tickets to contest Rajmahal and Jamshedpur constituencies respectively.
On a BJP leader planning to contest independently from Hazaribagh constituency against the party's official candidate Jayant Sinha, Naidu said "not a single person will accompany the person leaving the party. And those who had left the party in the past) had returned. I will not have to tell the names."
Ravindra Rai, the party's state unit president and candidate for Koderma LS seat, had left BJP along with former chief minister Babulal Marandi, but returned to the fold later.
