Dehradun: The former Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyay has joined BJP with the presence of Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi.

Congress has expelled him following anti-party activities, he has reportedly been upset with former Congress Chief Minister Harish Rawat to lead the Assembly elections.

After joining BJP, Mr. Upadhyay said “I have joined BJP with the spirit of taking Uttarakhand forward. You should ask Congress why such a situation has risen”.

A week back, Mr. Upadhyay was removed from the Congress after he reportedly met BJP leaders.

On January 3, Upadhyay had met some senior Uttarakhand BJP leaders at the residence of BJP organisational general secretary Ajeya Kumar. The BJP election in-charge Pralhad Joshi was also present in the meeting.

In his letter to Updhayay, Uttarakhand in charge of the Congress, Devendra Yadav in his letter to Upadhyay accused him of continuous anti-party activities and hobnobbing with the BJP and other political parties. Yadav said that despite multiple warnings, Upadhyay was indulged in anti-party activities.

“People of Uttarakhand are yearning for change and are waiting to throw out the corrupt BJP government. There is widespread anger with the maladministration, misgovernance and all-around corruption aided and abetted by the BJP leadership. It is the solemn duty of each one of us to rise to the challenge and serve the Devbhumi of Uttarakhand as also its people. Sadly, you have been hobnobbing with BJP and other political parties with a view to undermine this fight and weaken the cause of the people,” Yadav alleged in his letter.

Upadhyay has now been withdrawn as chairman of the Uttarakhand Congress Coordination Committee, member of the state Congress Core Committee, and the Uttarakhand Congress Pradesh Election Committee.