BJP leader Pradeep Sangwan quits party, joins Cong

I have also worked hard over the years for this party, but today people who worked tirelessly for them have been ignored and sidelined not just in Sonipat, but in other parts of Haryana as well. Opportunists and turncoats with poor or no track record of working for the masses have been fielded by the BJP in Haryana on most seats," Pradeep Sangwan said.

Sangwan, who was a front runner from Sonipat was ignored by the BJP who fielded turncoat Ramesh Kaushik (48) from the Jat-dominated constituency.

Kaushik, a former Congress leader had joined the BJP last year. Barring Hisar and Sirsa, which are being contested by its ally the Haryana Janhit Congress, the BJP has put up its candidates on the remaining 8 Lok Sabha seats in the State.

Meanwhile, Sangwan said Sonipat BJP district Youth, Women, Scheduled Caste and farmer cells presidents and some other leaders also resigned from the party today to protest against its decision to field Kaushik.

They all announced to join the Congress party, he said.

Later, addressing the public gathering at Gohana, Sangwan accused the BJP leadership of ditching the thousands of its workers.

Chief Minister Hooda welcomed Sngwan and all other new entrants and assured them due regard and position.

He said the Lok Sabha election results in Haryana will indicate who would win in the next State Assembly elections, which are due in October.

Hooda flayed BJP and said party has sidelined those who had been working tirelessly. He also dismissed the opposition charge that his government has only developed Rohtak and Sonipat regions.

He slammed INLD for describing the Congress and the BJP as two sides of a coin and extending unconditional support to BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the same breath.

The INLD is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Haryana on its own after its attempts for a tie-up with the BJP failed, even as the Om Prakash Chautala led party has announced its unconditional support to Narendra Modi.