Expelled BSP leader Imran Masood meets KC Venugopal, to make Congress ‘homecoming’ later today

Ahead of his return to the Congress, expelled Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh MLA, Imran Masood, met AICC general secretary in charge of organisation, KC Venugopal at the party headquarters in the national capital on Saturday. Masood will formally join the Congress later on Saturday at the AICC office in the presence of Congress leader Pawan Khera, the party’s UP chief Ajay Rai and secretary Pradeep Narwal.

Ahead of the last Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022, Masood was with the Congress but after a brief stint with the Samajwadi Party, he later joined the Mayawati-led BSP. Speaking to reporters on Friday ahead of his homecoming of sorts, Masood said an era of transformation has begun with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

“Amid the prevailing ambience of hate and violence, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took out the Bharat Jodo Yatra to send a message of peace and love. An era of transformation has begun with his march. I had a great working experience with him during my previous stint in the Congress. It’s unfortunate that I couldn’t be with the party for 1 to 1.5 years. I consider this to be my ‘ghar wapsi’,” Masood said on Friday.

On his expulsion from the BSP, Masood said, “I was firm in my belief even during my time with the BSP that all Opposition forces should come together. I told Behenji (Mayawati) that she should consider joining the Opposition alliance as it is the need of the hour. However, I was expelled in the bargain. Now I am not in any party.”