Nagaur, November 14: Giving a major jolt to the ruling party in Rajasthan, Habibur Rehman, a BJP MLA from Nagaur, joined the Congress on Wednesday. Rehman switched sides at the Pradesh Congress Committee office here soon after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Dausa, Harish Chandra Meena, joined Congress in New Delhi on the same day. Rehman joined the party in the presence of Ajmer MP Raghu Sharma.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said that the BJP party workers are feeling suffocated and hence are joining Congress to breathe easy. With Habibur Rehman re-joining Congress after 10 years, he said that the party welcomes him with an open heart on his 'ghar vapasi'. Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA, Former Legislator Join Congress.

Meanwhile, Rehman addressing the media said that he has joined Congress without setting any terms and conditions and shall work for strengthening the party. Harish Meena Quits BJP, Joins Congress Ahead of Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018.

"I have been connected with Congress since 1959 when my father was 'sarpanch' and he won assembly elections in 1962. I am happy to be back in my family, he added.

Rehman has been a minister in Rajasthan cabinet earlier during Congress government. However, in 2008, he was denied ticket by the Congress and eventually joined BJP. Thereafter, he contested the 2008 and 2013 elections as a BJP candidate and emerged a winner in consecutive elections.

However, on Sunday, when his name did not appear in the BJP's list of candidates, he sent his resignation to state party president Madanlal Saini. The BJP has given his ticket to Mohan Ram Choudhary from Nagaur.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 14, 2018 10:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).