The 36-member BJP legislature party in Chhattisgarh which had split on Thursday, have joined the Congress party on Friday. The 12 MLA`s had previously formed a new party - Chhattisgarh Vikas Party, which had been given recognition by group speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla. "The breakaway MLAs met on Thursday morning and decided to form a new outfit, Chhattisgarh Vikas Party, and elected Tarun Chatterjee as its leader," Chatterjee said after a meeting with Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla.

When the dissidents met the Speaker, Chief Minister Ajit Jogi was also present, but Chatterjee said they have still not decided on the issue of supporting the Congress government. Chatterjee said the other members of the new outfit are Haridas Baradwaj, Ganguram Baghel, Sakrajit Nayak, Madan Singh Deheria, Paresh Agrawal, Sohanlal, Shyama Dhruba, Premsingh Sidar, Vikram Bhagat, Lokendra Yadav and Rani Ratnamala Devi.

He told reporters later that they formed the new party as they were feeling humiliated and were treated badly in BJP.

"We were feeling humiliated and even some times we were treated with suspicion," Chaterjee said, but added "I do not want to say anything about BJP."
Bureau Report