Patna, Feb. 22: RJD’s state general secretary Swadesh Yadav today joined the BJP.

Welcoming Swadesh, considered a staunch supporter of Lalu Prasad in Madhepura, BJP state president Mangal Pandey said: “The party would gain strength in the Kosi region with the joining of a leader like Swadesh.”

Hailing from Madhepura, Swadesh has been involved in students’ politics for more than a decade and has been the president of Chhatra RJD. Apart from Swadesh, RJD state general secretary Shaheen Parveen, LJP leader Sudip Kumar and JD(U) youth leader Aditya Paswan, too, joined the BJP.

Swadesh said: “The so-called secular parties’ stand on communalism was only a cover for their family and dynastic politics.’ Pandey also took a jibe at the Centre for ignoring the demand for according special status category to Bihar.