Gaurav Bhatia, the man who once used to be Samajwadi Party’s face on the national television, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 2 in a low-key affair. Notably, Bhatia had left the SP five days before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Bhatia joined the saffron party in the presence of BJP national secretary Bhupendra Yadav and national general secretary Arun Singh at the party headquarters in New Delhi. He also met BJP president Amit Shah later during the day and so far the BJP has kept mum on the role of Bhatia in the party.
After joining the party, Gaurav Bhatia lashed out at the SP and said that the party was moving away from the ideals of Ram Manohar Lohia. He also claimed that there is no value of loyalty and sincerity in the SP and that it has been surrendered to dynastic politics.
A Supreme Court lawyer, Bhatia was not only the SP spokesperson, but also the national president of the legal cell of the party.
Although it is Bhatia’s personal decision to join any party, the reasons which he gave for joining the BJP, clearly point out the fact that the former SP spokesperson is a man of double standards, who will switch sides when it comes to personal gain.
Here’s why:
- Gaurav Bhatia accused the SP of dynastic politics and ‘pariwaarwaad’, but did he forget the fact, that he too has been a beneficiary of his family’s political legacy? His father Virendra Bhatia, who passed away in 2010, was a close aide of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and during his tenure, Virendra became the Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh and later, a Rajya Sabha lawmaker.
- Due to good relations with the Yadav family, Gaurav Bhatia was appointed as Additional Advocate General of the UP government led by then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.
- After leaving the Samajwadi Party, Bhatia had reportedly stated that he won’t join any political party, but nearly one month after the UP election result, he has joined the saffron party. Isn’t this a gain? Or after working with the SP for so many years, did Bhatia suddenly realise that the BJP “doesn’t compromise when it comes to the very principles of democracy, socialism and secularism?
- After joining the BJP, Bhatia said that he was inspired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a new India and that the PM inspired him to join the party. Now this is very hard to believe, because wasn’t he the one who used to criticize the BJP and PM Modi’s policies till a month back? How did PM Modi inspired him in such a short span of time? Modi has been prime minister for three years.
- Bhatia also said that the saffron party recognises calibre and dedication. Didn’t the SP give you recognition? Or acknowledge your dedication? The party made you the national president of its legal cell, what else did you want? The post of party president?
Bhatia is the latest in a string of politicians to switch sides. Recently, veteran Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna joined the BJP. Aam Admi Party (AAP) lawmaker Ved Prakash also joined the BJP, days before the crucial civic polls in Delhi which will be held later this month.
