New Delhi: Now that Jyotiraditya Scindia will affix BJP to him name, the party offered its congratulations.
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan extended a royal welcome to Scindia — ‘Maharaj’ style.
स्वागत है महाराज, साथ है शिवराज। @JM_Scindia
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) March 11, 2020
Sunil Deodhar, BJP National Secretary, also chimed in with his hello.
Happy to see the young & dynamic leader and grandson of our veteran leader late Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, @JM_Scindia ji join @BJP4India today.
This will further strengthen @BJP4MP.#JyotiradityaMScindia@VasundharaBJP @yashodhararaje pic.twitter.com/0pWVtqetzm
— Sunil Deodhar (@Sunil_Deodhar) March 11, 2020
Jyotiraditya’s son was quick to come out in his support, yesterday.
I am proud of my father for taking a stand for himself. It takes courage to to resign from a legacy. History can speak for itself when I say my family has never been power hungry. As promised we will make an impactful change in India and Madhya Pradesh wherever our future lies.
— Mahanaaryaman Scindia (@AScindia) March 10, 2020
Next in the line was his aunt and BJP national vice-president Vasundhara Raje.
If Rajmata Sahab was here today, she would be elated to see you put the #NationFirst.
I admire your strength of character and courage. It’s good to be on the same team.
Welcome to the BJP.@JM_Scindia pic.twitter.com/O1BU80R5By
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) March 11, 2020
The Congress meanwhile, seemed to be in a sulk. Senior Congress leader and Chief Minister of Puducherry V. Narayanasamy issues a dire warning to the BJP and to Scindia.
#BJP is enacting the strategy the way they did in #Karnataka . It is murder of democracy #JyotiradityaScindia has fallen into the trap. He will realise the himalayan blunder very shortly. BJP after using #Scindia will through him out. I am confident Shri Kamalnath prove majority.
— V.Narayanasamy (@VNarayanasami) March 11, 2020
Former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram, questions Scindia’s ideology
I understand ambition. But is ideology irrelevant?
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) March 10, 2020
Sanjay Jha issued a carefully crafted message for his former party-colleague.
Dear @JM_Scindia :I saw your first presser as a #BJP leader. It felt odd seeing you with the saffron party scarf.
You are a hugely talented asset & have a great career ahead. One kind request; please do not support religious bigotry and communal pyrotechnics. Thanks!
Good luck!
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) March 11, 2020
Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman, who quit Congress, congratulated Scindia, although he chose a different path.
I Choose to be independent because national parties have failed to understand our narrative in NE and Tripura . Did not leave Cong to join BJP because I am answerable to my conscience . Will not return back to congress because its a front for Leftist here.
— Pradyot_Tripura (@PradyotManikya) March 11, 2020
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan expressed his shock over the move.
I can understand the frustration of Scindia with the Congress party & its leadership, but joining the BJP shows crass opportunism & unethical conduct. Extremely shocking!
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) March 10, 2020
And historian Ramachandra Guha challenged Scindia to set his own party. Only if…
If @JM_Scindia had a spine, he would have done what @MamataOfficial and @PawarSpeaks did—set up his own party.
— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) March 10, 2020
Some Congress MPs seemed to cling on to hope about the party’s future like Devashish Jarariya.
मैंने कहा था कि पिक्चर अभी बाकी है। हम ग्वालियर चंबल संभाग के विधायको के परिवारजनो के संपर्क में है।
मंत्रियों विधायको को नही थी सिंधिया जी के प्लान की जानकारी।
विधायकों को अंधेरे में रखा गया, ज्यादातर विधायक भाजपा में नही जाना चाहते।
1/2
— Devashish Jarariya (@jarariya91) March 11, 2020
Former IAS officer and activist Kannan Gopinathan has a happy thought about departures and arrivals.
When one person leaves,
many new faces should join?
— Kannan Gopinathan (@naukarshah) March 10, 2020
Meanwhile, Milind Soman’s time at an RSS shakha became a contentious topic of discussion and the top trending tidbit on Twitter.
Trending at 54 for an experience I had at the age of 10. ???? wish it was about swimming, which was at the same time!
— Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) March 10, 2020
Twitter was also in splits over Union minister Ramdas Athawale’s odd tackling of coronavirus.
Just tell it to leave…. Why didn't anyone think of that before? #CoronagoCorona presented by our Minister for Social Justice and Chinese Consul-General in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/1VZemyPYOu
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) March 10, 2020
And for those who have a sedition case against them, a comforting thought from The New York Times about Mahatma Gandhi.
Mohandas K. Gandhi was arrested today in 1922 on charges of sedition https://t.co/Bd6N3ai5if pic.twitter.com/pb4tzd1kA4
— NYT Archives (@NYTArchives) March 10, 2020