Congress party received its biggest jolt today when Mr Mukesh Bassi, General Secretary, Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee resigned from the party after a 25 year long association with the party of which he was an elected delegate.

In a press release faxed to media Mr Bassi said he had been a loyal soldier of the Congress party for the past twenty five years. After resigning from the primary membership and all party posts of Congress party for “personal reasons” Mr Bassi joined the BJP in a function at the Bharatiya Janata party office.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Bassi, who has held various responsibilities like General Secretary and Vice President of NSUI as well as President of Youth Congress Chandigarh, said he had been feeling suffocated in Congress party for the last few days due to party policies and its functioning. Mr Bassi, an industrialist and currently President of the elite Chandigarh Club, said he has joined BJP without any condition and has chosen to join it because of its nationalist policies. Mr Bassi was welcomed in to the party fold by Chandigarh state BJP president Mrs Kamla Sharma and Party candidate for Chandigarh parliamentary party Mr Satya Pal Jain who assured him that he will get due respect in the BJP.