In a setback to the ruling BJP in Uttarakhand ahead of the Assembly polls, state minister Yashpal Arya on Monday quit the party and joined the Congress along with his MLA son Sanjeev Arya. A six-time MLA and prominent Dalit leader, Arya was the Transport Minister in the Pushkar Singh Dhami government. Sources said Yashpal as a minister had to face protests of farmers on a few occasions and had been wary of contesting on a BJP ticket. The BJP fielded his son in Nainital seat from where he won. Arya and his son met senior party leader Rahul Gandhi Monday before formally joining of the party.

Source: Indian Express October 11, 2021 06:56 UTC