Expelled From BSP, Imran Masood Does 'Ghar Wapsi' To Congress Hailing Rahul Gandhi As 'Changemaker'
Re-joining the Congress, former MLA Imran Masood credited Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra for altering the political landscape, leading to the party's victories in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.
Former MLA Imran Masood, who was expelled from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in August, made a homecoming to the Congress party on Saturday. This return was termed "ghar wapsi" by the Congress, marking a shift in the political landscape of western Uttar Pradesh. Imran Masood had been on quite a political journey over the past year, having joined the Samajwadi Party in January 2022, just before the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Subsequently, after the polls, he moved to the BSP.
The Congress welcomed Imran Masood back into the party during a press conference, attended by Congress' Media and Publicity Department Head Pawan Khera and AICC Secretary Pradeep Narwal.
"I would like to thank Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and KC Venugopal for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Congress party. I have decided to join this party after Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra. Even though I was in a different party, I had said that Rahul Gandhi is a changemaker and he would bring a change in politics," stated Imran Masood after rejoining the grand old party.
Imran Masood, a prominent political figure who has contested multiple times from Saharanpur and served as an MLA from the Musaffarabad seat in Saharanpur district in 2007, affirmed his commitment to the grand old party as he declared that he would remain with the party until his last breath.
He also expressed his intention to apologise to Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for his prior departure, news agency PTI reported.
Masood credited Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra for altering the political landscape, leading to the Congress's victories in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. He expressed confidence that the party would triumph in four states in the upcoming assembly elections.
Welcoming Masood back into the fold, Congress Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Shukla described this as Imran Masood's "ghar wapsi" and declared his unwavering commitment to the party, PTI reported. Shukla also asserted the Congress's optimism about winning in at least four states in the upcoming elections.
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The 2023 elections are scheduled to take place in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram.
Imran Masood's return to the Congress has been perceived by many political analysts as enhancing the party's claim to the Saharanpur seat during seat-sharing discussions among Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners.
Responding to queries about the number of seats the Congress would contest in the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, State Unit Chief Ajay Rai stated that he is strengthening the organisation in all 80 seats, and seat-sharing decisions within an alliance would be made by the central leadership, as per PTI.
Rajeev Shukla emphasised the strength of opposition unity and assured that seat-sharing arrangements would be resolved amicably closer to the polls.
Imran Masood, a nephew of the late former Union minister Rasheed Masood, was elected as the MLA from Muzaffarabad seat (Behat seat after delimitation) in Saharanpur district in the 2007 state elections. He has also contested Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket in 2014 and 2019 from Saharanpur.
Masood's expulsion from the BSP in August came as he was accused of indulging in anti-party activities and indiscipline. However, Masood had questioned the district unit's authority to expel him, stating that he was included in the party by BSP supremo Mayawati.
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