Haryana Congress Women’s Unit Chief Sumitra Chouhan Joins BJP

Just a few weeks before the Haryana Assembly Elections, Congress state women’s wing chief Sumitra Chouhan decided to bid adieu to the party and join BJP on Saturday. She cited the party’s stand on Triple Talaq and abrogation of provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir for quitting it. Chouhan joined the Rohtak office of BJP and was welcomed by Subhash Barala, who is the state BJP president.

“The stand of the Congress on these issues has totally gone against the sentiments of the people,” she said, TNIE reported. She added that she feels happy with the Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar is running his government in the state.

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Chouhan worked for three decades with Congress which she joined at the age of 21, she claims. Speaking to SheThePeople.TV about her work and the transition she says, “I felt that BJP respects women a lot more than any other political party. I don’t think that Congress’ stand on Triple Talaq and revoking of Section 370 was justified at all.”

She further adds, “Women are not fully respected yet for the work they do and the struggle they fight in their lives. There is a need for a big change in the outlook towards women of our country. We need to spread awareness among our women in all the various fields that they work in and at whatever level they are at. They way they toil in their lives, it is not recognized enough by society and hence women feel ignored. There is a need to form a kind of unity of women and that will happen only when they are well-represented in politics."

According to Chouhan, women will only progress when a greater number of women join politics at all levels, not just in the parliament. She opines adding that her entire effort is to bring more women into politics by making them aware about ground issues. “My work focuses on fetching women from their houses and driving them to enter politics.”

“I have worked in various prestigious positions in the party and I come from party cadre. My first choice is to strengthen the cadre. I want to work for the party and I want to bring a political revolution among women.”

On being asked if she wants to enter voting-based politics, she refutes the idea downright. “I have worked in various prestigious positions in the party and I come from party cadre. My first choice is to strengthen the cadre. I want to work for the party and I want to bring a political revolution among women.”

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After resigning from the primary membership of Congress, Chouhan has been inducted unconditionally in BJP. Barala said that Chouhan’s appointment is aimed at ending factionalism in the party state unit. Congress, on the other hand, named Kumari Shelja as its Haryana women’s wing president on Wednesday. It also appointed Bhupinder Singh Hooda as chairperson of the election management committee.

On Chouhan’s resignation, Shelja said, “What political decision she (Chouhan) takes is her wish, but it won’t affect the Congress’s prospects in assembly polls.”

Picture credit- Dainik Bhaskar