BSP man Manish Patel joins Congress ahead of Maihar by-poll

In a boost for Congress ahead of Assembly by-poll in Maihar constituency, BSP leader Manish Patel today joined the party.
"Congress party welcomes Patel into its family and with his induction the party may strengthen itself in Maihar where by-poll is likely to be held soon," Madhya Pradesh Congress President Arun Yadav told reporters.
Patel contested the last assembly elections in 2013 on BSP ticket unsuccessfully in Maihar and secured more than 40,000 votes to register his presence in the constituency.
Reportedly, BJP was also eyeing Patel but before it could do so, Congress sprang a surprise on it by announcing his "induction" into its fold.

When asked whether BJP has approached him, Patel said, "I have got some offers in the past but my close relatives were in Congress and in 2013 also I sought ticket from it, but when it was denied, I got an opportunity to contest the polls from BSP."
Patel also thanked BSP for giving him an opportunity as it gave him a chance to prove his credentials, which also paved his way into Congress.

He also denied that he joined Congress on the promise of getting party ticket for contesting by-poll from Maihar and added, "Now I will remain in Congress for the lifetime and whatever work the party leadership will assign me, I will do that wholeheartedly."

Yadav clarified that the decision to give ticket to Patel or anyone will be taken by the Congress high command at an appropriate time.
"There is no pre-condition as such," he insisted.
Winning Maihar by-poll is a must for the BJP to arrest the series of defeats the ruling party had suffered recently in Jhabua Lok Sabha by-poll and also in number of local body elections.
For Congress also winning Maihar by-poll is imperative as its sitting MLA, Narayan Tripathi resigned from the party and joined BJP during Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
BJP is likey to field Tripathi from Maihar in the coming by-poll which will be announced shortly.