Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy has merged his party with the Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP chief Rajnath Singh said Sunday
"I welcome Subramanian Swamy in the BJP. I believe this will benefit the party. It's time for a nationalist focus," Rajnath Singh told reporters here while announcing the merger.
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Swamy, who was commerce and law minister in the Chandra Shekhar government in the early 1990s, said he was happy over the development.
"I am glad. I have been in the Jan Sangh. I hope to work together with my colleagues," he told reporters after meeting Rajnath Singh at his residence here.
According to Swamy: "The country is passing through difficult times and needs the BJP for resolving the various problems."
Detailing his plans, he said: "I will work for a national purpose so a new future for India can be built. I am looking forward to working towards welfare of India's youth."
Swamy, who is known for his right-wing ideology, had joined the National Democratic Alliance last year when Nitin Gadkari was BJP president. Recently, he had been pursuing a merger of his outfit with the main opposition party.
The move is aimed at strengthening the NDA ahead of 2014 national polls.
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