Controversial seer Swami Paripoornananda who was recently externed from the city for disrupting the law and order situation has joined the BJP on Friday in New Delhi. Addressing the media, BJP President Amit Shah said that Paripoornananda would strengthen their party in Telangana and improve their prospects of winning the election in the state.
There was speculation earlier that Paripoornananda would join BJP and be chosen as its Chief Minister candidate in the upcoming elections, akin to Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh. However, BJP leaders have denied these rumours.
Speaking to TNM, BJP spokesperson, NV Subash said, “The speculation of him being chosen as the Chief Ministerial candidate is untrue. He will just work for the party.”
The seer, the founder of Rashtriya Hindu Sena, is a controversial figure in Telangana. Ten days before joining the party, Paripoornananda had met Amit Shah and expressed his interest to join the party.
Earlier this year the Hyderabad police had put Paripoornananda under house arrest and later banned him for six months from entering Hyderabad over statements made in response to film critic Mahesh Kathi whose comments on Lord Ram had triggered a controversy. The ban was later revoked by the Hyderabad High Court.
In one statement made earlier, the seer alleged that the Telangana government was collecting surcharges against Hindus in the state for visiting Kasi and Rameswaram, while on the other hand Christians and Muslims were given subsidy to visit Mecca and Jerusalem.
In another meeting in December last year at Kamareddy district, Paripoornananda had allegedly asked the gathering if they want 'Chatrapathi Shivaji rule' or 'Nizam rule'.