Congress candidate in UP defects to BJP

In a major embarrassment to the Congress, its candidate from Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) Thursday defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Saying he had taken the decision following a "wave in favour of Narendra Modi in the country", Ramesh Chand Tomar predicted a clean sweep for the saffron party in western Uttar Pradesh which goes to the polls April 10.

"Due to emotional reasons I had left the BJP five years back. Now I am back home and will contribute to the victory of the BJP and towards making Narendra Modi the prime minister of India," Tomar told IANS.

The defection has left the Congress red faced as it will have a candidate on the electronic voting machine who is now in the rival camp.

Mahesh Sharma, owner of a major private hospital in Noida, is the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from the constituency. - IANS