Expelled BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui joins Congress

New Delhi  :  Expelled Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui on Thursday joined Congress here in presence of senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and Uttar Pradesh Congress President Raj Babbar.

He also merged his political outfit Rashtriya Bahaman Morcha into the party.

Siddiqui, one time the closest confidante of Mayawati, joined Congress along with BSP leaders O. P. Singh, Liyakat Ali, Achhe Lal Nishad, Arshad Khan, Begum Husna Siddiqui, Raghunath Prasad, Anil Awana and few others.

"We welcome all the leaders and thank them for joining the Congress party. This is an indication that situation on the ground is changing and the future of Congress party is bright.

"Under the leadership of party President Rahul Gandhi, people from other parties are willing to join Congress and work with him," Azad, General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, told media persons.

"The Congress party will rise once again as the strongest party in the country. Today, I heartily welcome all the members to the Congress party.

"All the members who have joined the party will strengthen our support on the ground. I believe that their joining will further strengthen the party," he added.

BSP supremo Mayawati had thrown out Siddiqui and his son Afzal from the party on May 10, after which Siddiqui had levelled serious charges against the four-time Chief Minister, even alleging that she had sought Rs 50 crore from him. He had also released some audio tapes of his telephonic conversations with her.