Samandar Patel (left) and Jyotiraditya Scindia (right).
Credit : X/@officejmscindia
Madhya Pradesh MLA Samandar Patel quit the BJP and returned to Congress with a show of strength as he led a 1200-car convoy, on Friday, from his constituency Jawad to Bhopal to submit his resignation papers at the saffron party office.
Alleging that he felt suffocated in the BJP party, Patel is the third Scindia loyalist to return to Congress after joining BJP in 2020. Patel was considered Scindia’s lieutenant.
Patel is the third to leave the BJP in the last 3 months with a similar style of car rallies.
Earlier on June 14 Shivpuri BJP leader Baijnath Singh Yadav had held a 700-car rally while cutting ties with Scindia, followed by BJP Shivpuri district vice president Rakesh Kumar Gupta on June 26.
“I left the party with Maharaj (Scindia). But soon, I felt suffocated within the BJP.” The Indian Express reported Patel saying. He added that he was not invited to any events and denied respect and a position of power.
“My supporters were constantly humiliated by Sakhlecha’s camp. Multiple false cases were filed against them over petty fights. That was when I decided to leave,” Patel said.
For the last two months, tensions have been arising between the Scindia camp and the BJP old guard in Madhya Pradesh.