Key leader leaves BJP ahead of Delhi bypolls

Delhi: Arvinder Singh Lovely, the former Delhi minister and senior Congress leader, who left the party to join the BJP nine months ago, has announced coming back to Congress. This is being seen as a big boost for the Congress Party, which is preparing for the bypolls to 20 assembly seats.

Lovely, a four-time MLA and former minister of education and transport, joined te BJP nine months ago in April last year. His joining has helped the BJP in winning back the MCB. But, he said he was a misfit in the BJP and said leaving the Congress was not a happy decision. It was done under distress, he said.

Lovely addressed a press conference on Monday at the national capital and announced his return. Lovely’s family is known for its loyalty to the Congress. Congress leader Ajay Maken said Lovely’s return would boost the prospects of the Congress Party in the upcoming bypolls necessitated by the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs on illegally enjoying an office of profit while being MLAs.