Former Congress leader Sampat Singh joins BJP in Amit Shah's presence

Former Haryana finance minister Sampat Singh, who had recently quit the Congress, joined the ruling BJP in the state on Wednesday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Singh had resigned from the Congress on Monday, alleging that he was not given his due in the party.

He joined the BJP at Meham, shortly before the BJP president was to address an election rally for the October 21 Haryana Assembly polls.

Shah and other party BJP leaders present at the dais welcomed Singh into the party fold.

The veteran leader's decision to quit the Congress came just two weeks ahead of the election.

Singh, a minister in the erstwhile INLD government in the state, had quit the regional party to join the Congress. But he claimed that he was not given his due share even though he helped the Congress come to power in Haryana in 2009.

He was an aspirant from the Nalwa segment for the upcoming polls.

A few days back, Chief Minister M L Khattar had indicated that Sampat Singh might join the BJP.

While speaking to reporters in Rohtak on Sunday, Khattar had praised him, saying, "He is a good person. When he was in the government, his performance was good. If he joins, then we will let you know."