Congress leader slams BJP over ‘Double Standards’ on defections

Congress leader and AICC minority department national coordinator, Rajesh Kumar Sethi has strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party, terming its approach towards Congress leaders as “blatant political hypocrisy” and double standards.
A press release by national coordinator, AICC minority department incahrge – Manipur & former chairman of Nagaland PCC minority department, Rajesh Kumar Sethi stated BJP leaders have long accused Congress members of corruption, incompetence and misgovernance, but the moment those leaders join BJP, they are “instantly declared clean and capable.” He questioned whether such allegations were genuine or merely political tools.
Citing instances, Sethi named leaders such as Jyotiraditya Scindia, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Narayan Rane and Jitin Prasad, who crossed over to BJP and were later given significant positions. He said such shifts, particularly around elections, raise concerns about transparency and fuel perceptions of inducements, including promises of posts and financial incentives.
Taking a sharp dig, Sethi said BJP appears to be a “rehabilitation centre for former Congressmen,” adding that while the lotus symbol remains, it now reflects “Congress roots flourishing under a different banner.” Sethi said the BJP symbol needs a rethink, adding that the lotus may still bloom, but what it reflects is no longer original ideology — it is a reflection of Congress roots being replanted.
Referring to recent political developments in Assam, Sethi said the trend has become more evident, noting that former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah and sitting MP Pradyut Bordoloi, along with others, have joined the BJP. He said such back-to-back shifts during an election-driven period raise serious concerns about the motivations behind them.
He added that the trend is demoralising for BJP’s grassroots workers, who are being sidelined while turncoat leaders are rewarded, questioning if this is the “new politics” the party promised.
Sethi concluded that politics must stand on principles, not convenience, asserting that people deserve consistency, honesty and ideological clarity, not selective narratives driven by political advantage.