Parminder Singh Bhamra leaves BJP red-faced

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was left red-faced on Tuesday after sitting Congress corporator Parminder Singh Bhamra, who had joined BJP last week, went back to his original party. BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar could not answer Bhamra’s move to return to Congress and just said that he would soon “expose” the corporator.

Bhamra had joined BJP last week in the presence Mr Shelar, criticising Mumbai Congress president Sanjaya Nirupam’s style of functioning. Former Congress MLA Krishna Hegde also joined BJP along with Bhamra. The Congress corporator represents a ward in Malad.

Sources in Congress said Bhamra was not sure about getting a ticket for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls and hence he preferred returning to his earlier party. “Some respite for Mumbai Congress. Corporator Parminder Singh Bhamra is back to the party unconditionally. He had joined Mumbai BJP a week ago. He was getting suffocated there,” Mr Nirupam wrote on his Twitter handle. “We have taken him back, as he was not comfortable in the BJP,” Mr Nirupam said.

Bhamra was no available for comment as his phone was switched off till late in the evening. He had kicked off a controversy for suggesting the use of cow urine to clean hospitals. He had even claimed that he uses cow urine at home for cleaning. When Mr Shelar was asked about Mr Bhamra’s return, he only replied, “We will expose him on February 2,” refusing to talk more on the issue.

Incoming free
Independent corporator from Colaba, Makarand Narvekar joined BJP on Tuesday, hoping to get involved in development works assured by BJP. He is the citizen's candidate from the Colaba area. Mr Narvekar had supported Shiv Sena earlier and was considered close to Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray. Despite being an independent corporator he was made the head of law committee of BMC.