Reacting to the resignation of Manish Khanduri and his joining the ranks of BJP, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara said on Saturday that those who want to remain attached to power and relish its benefit are leaving Congress. He said that driven by greed for power, some leaders have joined the BJP while some are being shown the fear of government agencies.
Mahara said that the BJP is desperate in view of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and its desperation is reflected in its actions. He said that Khanduri had not put up his grievance to the party leadership. Mahara accepted that Khanduri’s name was in the panel of candidates for the Garhwal seat but claimed that his defection will have no effect on the Congress. "We have many strong leaders such as former PCC president Ganesh Godiyal, former minister Harak Singh Rawat, State president of Mahila Congress Jyoti Rautela, senior leader Dhirendra Pratap and others in Garhwal," he said.
