Bastar royal family heir joins BJP

The Bastar royal family, that commands huge followings among the tribals in its erstwhile kingdom in south Chhattisgarh, on Wednesday took a plunge into active politics after almost 55 years when the young scion Kamal Chandra Bhanjdeo joined the BJP here, giving a boost to the ruling party ahead of November Assembly polls in the state. The development is most likely to change the political scenario in tribal-dominated Bastar region, considered crucial to parties vying for power in Chhattisgarh, observers here say. Setting at rest year-long speculations on his political move, Mr Bhanjdeo, a graduate in international business from Coventry University in UK, finally announced his decision to join BJP here in the presence of chief minister Raman Singh and a host of other senior party leaders. “I have chosen BJP because I consider it the only party which can meet aspirations of tribals of Bastar by ensuring fast development in the region,” Mr Bhanjdeo told reporters here.