Just a couple of months left for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, a former cabinet minister of Rajasthan and Congress MLA, is reportedly planning to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), delivering a serious blow to the party in the state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.According to the sources, Malviya is not happy with the Congress party.Remarkably, on February 14, Malviya abstained from Jaipur when Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination papers to run for the Rajya Sabha as a Congress member from Rajasthan.Malviya presently serves as the district of Banswaras representative for the Bagidora Assembly seat.It is anticipated that his inclusion in the party before the forthcoming Lok Sabha Polls in the state can play a significant role. As a tribal leader from southern Rajasthan, where the BJP is considered to have a stronger footing than the Congress.The Mewar region, which includes the Bagidora Assembly seat, includes the pre-August 4 district reorganization areas of Bhilwara, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, and Udaipur.In 2008, Malviya won 45,000 votes to become the first MLA, defeating Jeetmal Khant of the Janata Dal (United). Malviya had lost to Khant in 2003 by 6,000 votes.In 2013, the Congress lost 21 seats due to significant anti-incumbency sentiment. However, Malviya had won against Khemraj Garasiya of the BJP to keep his seat. In 2018, he overcame Garasiya once more.How Malviyas shift to BJP will make differenceIt is anticipated that Malviyas defection could have a symbolic impact on the political landscape of Rajasthan. Malviya is a relatively well-known figure in the party. His defection could be seen as a sign that the Congress is losing support in the state, which could embolden the BJP and other opposition parties.It is also possible that Malviyas defection could trigger a chain reaction, leading other Congress legislators to switch sides. This would be a major blow for the Congress.
