Four-time Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya joins BJP in Rajasthan

It was earlier reported by PTI that Malviya would join the BJP in the presence of key figures such as Arun Singh, the BJP's Rajasthan in-charge, CP Joshi, the state unit chief, and other party members.

Serving another jolt to the party a few months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, four-time Congress MLA from Rajasthan Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 19.

Upon joining the party, Malviya noted that his decision is driven by the commitment to the development of the Vagad region. "The primary motivation for joining the BJP is the advancement of the Vagad region. The BJP is uniquely positioned to drive development, as the Congress lacks a visionary approach," he commented on the occasion in an interaction with the media, the ANI has reported.

Ahead of his joining, Malviya had highlighted the concept of a "double-engine government" in Rajasthan, lauding the BJP's governance both at the state and central levels.

Malviya joined the BJP in the presence of key figures such as Arun Singh, the BJP's Rajasthan in-charge, CP Joshi, the state unit chief, and other party members.

In the 2023 assembly elections, the BJP secured a decisive victory in Rajasthan, claiming 115 seats. Meanwhile, the Congress, which held power in the state from 2018 to 2023, won only 70 seats.

Notably, Malviya was absent in Jaipur on February 14 when Sonia Gandhi submitted her nomination papers; Gandhi will be contesting from Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Before this, he held the Bagidora Assembly seat in the Banswara district, representing the Mewar region, encompassing the former districts of Bhilwara, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, and Udaipur prior to the district reorganisation on August 4.

Malviya, who initially became an MLA in 2008 by defeating Jeetmal Khant of the Janata Dal (United) with a margin of 45,000 votes, had faced a setback in 2003 when Khant triumphed by 6,000 votes. Despite facing strong anti-incumbency in 2013, resulting in the Congress being reduced to having only 21 seats, Malviya successfully retained his position by defeating the BJP's Khemraj Garasiya. This victory was replicated in 2018 against Garasiya.

In 2020, Malviya's name surfaced in an FIR related to the attempt to topple the Ashok Gehlot government. The attempt was orchestrated by Tonk MLA Sachin Pilot and his group of loyalist MLAs.