Tribal leader and former BJP minister Kirori Meena today announced alliance with former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma by joining his National People's Party.
Meena, Independent MP from Dausa, announced the launching of the party, which was formed by Sangma, in the state at a public meeting in tribal dominated Gogunda area of the district.
Khinwsar (Nagaur) MLA Hanuman Beniwal, who is suspended from BJP Legislature Party, also joined the party in the huge public meeting in which Meena announced that the party will contest ensuing state Legislative Assembly elections on 150 to 200 constituencies.
Accusing both ruling Congress and opposition BJP of doing negative politics, Meena came down heavily on BJP state president and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and said that he will not let her become chief minister of the state again.
Kirori was the cabinet minister in former BJP government led by Raje and parted ways from BJP before the last assembly elections in 2008 and won an assembly seat as independent candidate.
In 2009, he won Dausa parliamentary constituency as independent candidate.
Meena has considerable influence on his community, particularly in Dausa, Sawaimadhopur, Karauli and nearby region and now he is active in the tribal area in Southern parts of the state to woo tribal votes in the assembly elections due later this year.
"Launching a new regional party would have some practical problems so I decided to join hands with Sangma.
NPP is a national party and we will work here hard for its expansion in the state," Meena told PTI after addressing the meeting, adding that his party will stand by the farmers, dalits, tribals and women.
He said that his party, with the symbol of a 'book', would crack the whip on those found involved in corruption.
Outspoken legislator Hanuman Beniwal, who was suspended from the party for corruption charges against Vasundhara Raje and BJP whip and Raje's loyal Rajendra Rathore, said that the party will work for the welfare of farmers with a theme of 'water-for every farm'. Former union minister Arvind Netam was also present in the meeting.
