Ranchi, June 6: State Mahila Congress president Pratibha Pandey joined the BJP today along with her husband, dealing a severe blow to her former party on the eve of the Hatia by-election.

While resigning from the Congress, with which they had been associated for over three decades, the Pandeys said the party organisation in the state was ignoring dedicated workers and promoting newcomers. They described the Congress in Jharkhand as Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay’s pocket organisation.

Joining the BJP fold, the couple vowed to fight for candidate Ramji Lal Sarda in Hatia and ensure his win.

Pratibha Pandey was a strong claimant for the Congress ticket for Hatia, but Sahay somehow managed to field his brother Sunil.

In 2005 too, she was given the Congress ticket from Hatia, but Sahay compelled her to step down and arranged a party ticket for late Gopal Sharan Nath Shahdeo. Consequently, Arun Pandey tonsured his head in protest.

Speaking to newsmen, Arun Pandey said he would ensure Sahay’s defeat in the next Lok Sabha elections.