MP: Social welfare dept chief Padma Shukla resigns from BJP, joins Congress

Madhya Pradesh Social Welfare Board Chief Padma Shukla on Monday resigned from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shukla, who was a BJP member since 1980, also held a state cabinet rank.

In a letter to BJP state president Rakesh Singh, Shukla expressed her disappointment with the party saying, "I have been a primary member of the party since 1980 and have discharged my duties accordingly. I am upset because of the negligence and exploitation of the party workers in Vijayraghavgarh constituency post 2014 by-polls. Thus, I am resigning from the primary membership of the party."

Shukla's main clash was with MP Minister Sanjay Pathak. According to her, Pathak used to insult workers. “I tried to work with Madhya Pradesh Minister Sanjay Pathak for two years but that seemed impossible. He used to humiliate BJP workers. It was hurting and damaging the self-respect of my workers,” Shukla told ANI.

She has also resigned from the post of state Social Welfare Board chief. After resigning from BJP, Padma Shukla promptly joined Congress. She was welcomed in the grand old party by workers in presence of prominent Congress leader Kamal Nath.