After ED investigations against Harak Singh Rawat, speculation was rife that Gusain would join BJP
PrashantNews
After days of speculation, Anukriti Gusain, model-turned politician and daughter-in-law of former Uttarakhand cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat, joined BJP on Sunday.
She joined BJP at the Dehradun-based BJP headquarters in presence of state party president Mahendra Bhatt who gave BJP membership to her.
Thirty-year-old Gusain had contested the 2022 assembly elections in Uttarakhand as a Congress candidate from Lansedown seat but was defeated by BJP’s Dilip Singh.
Gusain had quit Congress just before the Lok Sabha elections on April 19 fuelling speculation that she might join BJP. She had released a video message appealing to the people to vote in favor of BJP and make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister once again.
Her father in law Rawat was shown the doors by BJP due to his alleged closeness to Congress before the 2022 assembly elections. He was also expelled from the party for six years.
Later, both Rawat and Gusain joined the Congress. Gusain was fielded by the Congress from Lansdowne assembly constituency in Pauri district. Gusain has also won the Miss India Asia Pacific title in 2014.
After joining BJP, Gusain expressed gratitude to State Party President Bhatt and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for allowing her to join the BJP. She said that she is very impressed by the policies of the Prime Minister and the BJP and will work to strengthen the party.
The ongoing investigations by the Enforcement Directorate against Rawat in the case of alleged illegal construction in Jim Corbett Park are also being considered as the reason for Gusain joining BJP.