Big Blow! Congress UP star campaigner RPN Singh quits party, joins BJP

New Delhi: In a major setback for the Congress ahead of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, senior party leader R P N Singh on Tuesday severed ties with the grand old party and joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Singh, a Minister of State in the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, tendered his resignation to party President Sonia Gandhi.

"Today, at a time, we are celebrating the formation of our great Republic, I begin a new chapter in my political journey. Jai Hind," he tweeted and attached the resignation copy. Singh expressed his gratitude to Sonia Gandhi for giving him an opportunity to the serve the country and the party.

The former Minister was one among 30 star campaigners for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.

Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held from February 10 to March 7. (Inputs from UNI)