Former Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely joins BJP

NEW DELHI: Less than a week before the municipal elections are due to be held in Delhi, the Congress, which was looking at a revival after being routed out in the 2015 Assembly elections, faced a major setback on Tuesday with former Delhi Congress chief and four-time MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely joining the BJP. Youth Congress leader Amit Malik too joined the party. Both leaders were reportedly 'upset' with the way ticket distribution was carried out by the party for the municipal elections under the leadership of Ajay Maken.

Singh was first elected as Delhi's MLA from Gandhi Nagar in East Delhi in 1998 and held important portfolios such as education, tourism and transport in the Shiela Dikshit cabinets through her three terms. However, he did not contest the 2015 assembly elections.

Lovely's exit is being seen as a major jolt to the Congress that is looking at reviving its voter base in the capital's unauthorised colonies, many of which are in east Delhi where lovely enjoys his support. Malik's entry too is being seen as a big boost to the BJP that is banking on young voters disgruntled and disillusioned by the AAP and the Congress.

Both Malik and Lovely have joined the BJP after Congress leaders, including former cabinet minister AK Walia aired his views about being sidelined by the party leadership during the ticket distribution for the upcoming municipal polls. Prior to their joining the party, three other party functionaries-two sitting councillors and a three time MLA- have already joined the BJP.