This is second innings of my political career: JSPL Chairman Naveen Jindal on joining BJP

JSPL Chairman Naveen Jindal with Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini

Naveen Jindal, Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), on March 25 said joining BJP marks "second innings" of his political career.

On March 24, Jindal was announced as BJP's candidate from Kurukshetra for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.

"I extend my greetings to everyone on the occasion of Holi. This is second innings (of my political career). The BJP has shown trust in me, and fielded me from Kurukshetra. I thank PM Modi for this," said Jindal on March 25 after meeting Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini.

Jindal, who represented the Kurukshetra constituency in Lok Sabha from 2004-14 as a Congress MP, quit the opposition party on Sunday, and said he wants to contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda of 'Viksit Bharat'.

He joined the BJP at its Delhi headquarters in the presence of its general secretary Vinod Tawde.

VIDEO | Lok Sabha elections 2024: "I extend my greetings to everyone on the occasion of #Holi. This is my second innings (of my political career). The BJP has shown trust in me, and fielded me from Kurukshetra. I thank PM Modi for this," says Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal), BJP… pic.twitter.com/eyfD6WUkuT

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On Sunday, Jindal, who lost from Kurukshetra in 2014, speaking to reporters in Delhi, said the country has progressed under Modi's leadership in the last 10 years and many historic steps such as the abrogation of Article 370 have been taken.

The dream of having a Ram temple in Ayodhya has also been realised, he told reporters.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday took a swipe at the BJP soon after industrialist Naveen Jindal joined the party and said this had to happen ''when you need a giant size washing machine''.

''When you need a giant-size washing machine, this had to happen. And after making ZERO contributions to the party in the last ten years, saying I am resigning from it is a big joke,'' Ramesh said in a post on X platform (formerly Twuttsoon after Jindal joined the BJP.

The Congress leader also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

''The PM wanted a Congress-mukt Bharat. Instead he has made a Corrupt-mukt Congress by deploying so many washing machines along with the ED and the CBI to force corrupt Congressmen to flee to his embrace!'' he said in another post.

With inputs from PTI