In a significant political development, former BJP legislator Anil Singh and former JD(U) General Secretary Shambhu Patel officially joined the Indian National Congress along with hundreds of their supporters. The induction took place during a special joining ceremony at the Bihar Pradesh Congress headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, in the presence of State Congress President Rajesh Ram.
Mass Joining Ceremony at Sadaqat Ashram
The grand event at the Congress headquarters witnessed Anil Singh, a two-time former MLA from Chandi, and Shambhu Patel, a senior JD(U) leader and former member of the State Advisory Council, formally accepting Congress membership under the leadership of Rajesh Ram. Both leaders expressed their commitment to the Congress’s ideology and vision for inclusive development.
Congress Welcomes Senior Leaders
Welcoming them into the party, Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram stated that Anil Singh has previously served as MLA from both the Congress and Samata Party and is the son of former Education Minister Dr. Ramraj Singh. Shambhu Patel, on the other hand, has held the position of State General Secretary in JD(U) and has been a legislative candidate and advisor within the party. Ram noted that their inclusion would strengthen the Congress’s grassroots reach and influence.
Voices of Discontent with BJP and JD(U)
Addressing the media post-induction, Anil Singh criticized the current government, labeling it as pro-corporate and indifferent to the common citizen. “The government only caters to the interests of the wealthy, while the poor and middle class continue to suffer,” he said. Singh emphasized the need for a political platform that champions public welfare, which he sees in the Congress.
Shambhu Patel echoed similar sentiments, stating that JD(U) has deviated from its core ideology and no longer serves the people effectively. Citing inspiration from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s commitment to the marginalized, Patel affirmed his decision to join Congress to better serve the underprivileged.
Supporters Who Joined Alongside
Anil Singh was accompanied by key associates such as Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Kameshwar Prasad Singh, Harikant Sharma, Faujdar Prasad, Laljeet Paswan, Ram Kishan Azad, Shravan Mahto, and Ajit Kumar Paswan.
Shambhu Patel’s group included Chandrama Paswan, Surendra Singh, Vala Singh, Subhash Singh, Mohammad Hanif, Mukhtar Shah, and Bachha Paswan.
Presence of Senior Congress Leaders
The event was also attended by several senior Congress leaders, including Brajesh Prasad Munnan, Jamal Ahmad Bhallu, Motilal Sharma, Jitendra Gupta, Rajesh Rathore, Ajay Chaudhary, Manjeet Anand Sahu, Ramayan Prasad Yadav, Kumar Ashish, Saurabh Sinha, Baidyanath Sharma, Uday Shankar Patel, Arvind Lal Rajak, Naresh Prasad Akela, Kishore Kumar, Rajendra Chaudhary, and Pradyuman Yadav, among others.