Bhopal, Oct 30 (PTI) A sitting MLA of the BJP and a former legislator of the party in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh Tuesday joined the Congress in the presence of its president Rahul Gandhi at Indore.

The state Congress made the announcement through a tweet on its official handle about the induction of sitting BJP MLA Sanjay Sharma and ex-MLA Kamlapat Arya.

Sitting MLA from Tendukheda (Narsinghpur district) Sanjay Sharma and ex-MLA from Bhander (Datia district) Kamalapat Arya, both from BJP, joined the Congress in front of party president Rahul Gandhi, the state Congress said on twitter.

It was a sort of homecoming for Sharma and Arya, who were in the Congress before they joined the BJP.

The ruling party, however, sought to downplay the cross-over by its two leaders, saying such things happen before elections.

When approached, state Congress Media Cell vice- president Bhupendra Gupta confirmed that Sharma and Arya have joined the main opposition party, which is out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003.

Before joining the BJP, Sharma and Arya were in the Congress. Later, both the leaders were elected to the assembly on BJP ticket.

State BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said, "This is not going to affect the BJP. We are winning the elections with an emphatic majority. This happens before the elections."

Madhya Pradesh will vote on November 28.

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