India's ex-envoy to UK Jaimini Bhagwati to join Cong

He plans to contest from his native Tezpur constituency in Assam

India's former High Commissioner to United Kingdom Jaimini Bhagwati will soon join the Congress and seek nomination to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Assam.

Bhagwati, who retired last year, is planning to contest the Lok Sabha elections from his native Tezpur constituency in Assam, sources close to him said.

The 1976 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, had served as the Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU, besides India's envoy to the UK during his 33 years of diplomatic career.

Bhagwati's father late Bijoy Chandra Bhagwati, a freedom fighter and Padma Bhushan awardee, had served as a Minister in the governments of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

Bhagwati has already met Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and discussed about his joining the Congress.

The former diplomat is the second IFS officer to join politics after Hardeep Puri, who has recently joined BJP.

Two retired IAS officer -- former Union Home Secretary R K Singh and former Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey -- have already joined BJP and are likely to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Bihar.