MEERUT: Ahead of bypoll on

’s Gangoh assembly seat, former Congress MLA Sushil Chaudhary joined the ruling

. It comes a day after former Congress MP Rajesh Mishra declined to accept the membership of the party’s state advisory council. Chaudhary joined the saffron party in presence of its state president Swatantra Dev.

In another boost for the BJP in the area, former district president of

too joined it. This comes days after the entire

unit of the district switched over to the BJP. With virtually hijacking almost entire cadre of the opposition parties including BSP, Congress and SP, upbeat BJP leadership is confident of winning Gangoh assembly bypoll “hands down”.

“It will certainly help BJP in both short and long run. All those who have recently joined BJP know well that the country is in safe hands and only Modiji can steer it forward. That is why they have joined BJP bandwagon,” said Ashwani Tyagi, regional president of BJP for West

.

Imran Masood, senior Congress leader whose brother Noman Masood is Congress candidate from Gangoh downplayed the incident.

“Exit of Sushil Chaudhary hardly makes any difference. His entire clan has fractured loyalties. One brother is in Samajwadi Party while the other one is in BJP. So, it is of no concern to us. We are strong and will win the bypoll come what may.”

BJP has fielded Kirat Pal Singh as its candidate from Gangoh. He is a first timer and hence BJP is using all tactics to humble opposition here. Besides, by dismantling opposition cadre it is also looking forward to gain political strength in Saharanpur which the party lost to BSP candidate in the recently held 2019 General Elections, revealed a source in BJP who did not wish to be quoted.

Gangoh is one of the five Assembly constituencies of Kairana LS seat.