BHOPAL: In a major blow to the ruling Congress party ahead of Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh , the party's popular and young tribal face in Vindhya region, Himadri Singh joined BJP, here on Wednesday in the presence of BJP state president Rakesh Singh. Himadri is likely to be the BJP candidate from Shahdol Lok Sabha constituency.The royal scion among tribals in the Vidhya region, Himadri is daugher of two-term former Union minister of Congress, Dalbir Singh and MP, Rajesh Nandini Singh. She had contested the 2016 Shahdol parliamentary by-election on Congress ticket but lost to BJP candidate Gyan Singh by a margin of 60,383 votes. She said the decision to join saffron party was personal based on family need."I joined BJP on my own wish. My husband is in saffron party. My uncle is also a BJP member so, I decided to be with the family. There is no political or family pressure to take a decision on this", Hemadri told reporters after taking the saffron membership at the BJP state head office.On her desire to contest Lok Sabha elections, the tribal leader said, "I can contest election but nothing has been decided in the regard. I am happy to be with BJP and believe that the country needs a Prime Minister like Modi ji again", she said.In September 2017, Himadri tied the knot with BJP youth wing leader Narendra Singh Marawi, who cut his teeth against Himadri’s mother in the 2009 polls but, lost. During the by-poll, Himadri was wooed by BJP but stuck with Congress and gave a tough fight to BJP veteran Gyan Singh. After marriage, Congress leaders had objected to her campaigning for BJP candidates during the recently concluded assembly polls.However, the BJP strategy to rope in Himadri from Shahdol came to fore after growing disenchantment of tribal voters towards the saffron party. BJP MP, Gyan Singh, who was unwilling to contest the Lok Sabha by-poll in 2016, has lost his tribal connect in rural areas of Vindhya region. During recent feedback from the party workers, it was revealed that Gyan Singh kept himself restricted to Umaria district.During recently concluded assembly elections, the Congress performance in the eight assembly segments of Shahdol Lok Sabha took a massive revival resulting into an increase in votes in the region. Congress secured over 5.12 lakh votes against BJP's 4.90 lakh votes in the region last election. Around 70,000 votes went to the Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), who claims to be the only saviour of tribals in the region.A swing has also been observed in other tribals dominated seats of the region in favour of Congress, which compelled the saffron party to change its strategy ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Sources said that BJP is likely to field Himadri Singh from Shahdol replacing Gyan Singh.BJP state president Rakesh Singh welcomed Himadri and said that she would help BJP workers strengthen the party in Vindhya region. Congress however, dubbed Himadri as an opportunist. "Himadri married to BJP leader and also helped the saffron party during recent elections. Congress workers from Shahdol did not want her to contest the next elections so she decided to switch on to BJP. She turned an opportunist for her political future", said Congress state spokesperson J P Dhanopia.

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