Congress Noida candidate switches side, says there is Modi-wave in country

As opinion polls predict a likely win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming general elections, increasing number of leaders from the Congress party - facing anti-incumbency - have changed loyalties to join BJP.

In the latest such development, Congress candidate from Noida, Ramesh Tomar, joined BJP on Thursday citing the ongoing Modi wave in the country as the reason.

BJP chief, Rajnath Singh, accepted Tomar's candidature.

"Ramesh Tomar has accepted the membership of Bharatiya Janata Party and I give him acknowledgement as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party," said Singh.

This time a high voltage campaign by Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi seems to have tilted scales in favour of the BJP with several opinion polls forecasting heavy losses for Gandhi-led Congress party at the hustings.

Tomar was a leader of BJP before he joined Congress five years ago. He has now re-joined his old party.

"Today the country needs Modi. The entire country wants Modi's vision. So, I thought that if the country wants Modi, I should also join my old party. Hence, I came in my former party," said Tomar.