UP BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey's daughter-in-law Amruta joins Congress

Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a loss of face in Uttar Pradesh with its state chief Mahendra Nath Pandey's daughter-in-law joining the Congress party on Wednesday.  Amruta Pandey, who is Mahendra Nath Pandey's elder brother's daughter-in-law, joined the grand old party after meeting party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Amruta had earlier met Priyanka and congratulated her for becoming the Congress’ new eastern UP in charge. Reports say she will be a part of Priyanka's campaigning in Chunar area of Mirzapur district today. On what prompted her to join the Congress, Amruta said that she has an old connection with the Gandhi family and the party.

"My first home is Congress and it’s like returning to my old house. With Priyanka Gandhi officially entering politics, I feel it will give a big boost to the Congress. I believe even I can now contribute something towards nation building,” Amruta told ABP News.

Further, she said her entry into Congress shouldn’t cause an embarrassment to her father-in-law.

“I respect BJP as well. He (Mahendra Nath Pandey) is in a very respectable position. My entry in Congress would though cause him a bit of difficulty but his blessings are always with me.”

Amruta said she currently wants to severe the party as a worker but doesn’t rule out contesting Lok Sabha elections if given an opportunity.

Polling will be held in seven phases in Uttar Pradesh from April 11 to May 19. Results will be announced on May 23.

About Mahendra Nath Pandey

The 62-year-old politician has served as Union Minister of State for Ministry of Human Resource Development between 2016 and 2017.  In the 2014 general elections, he defeated his nearest rival Anil Maurya of Bahujan Samaj Party by a margin of approximately 150,000 votes. In the year 2017, he was appointed president of Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party replacing Keshav Prasad Maurya who is the state’s deputy chief minister.