Hamirpur: In a major political development ahead of the 2014 parliamentary election, Congress leader Narinder Thakur, son of late BJP stalwart Jagdev Chand, rejoined the BJP.

Speaking to the media, Thakur stated that it’s right time to return to the party his father served.

Earlier, Narinder Thakur had joined Congress after differences with former Chief Minister Prem Kuamr Dhumal in 2009 and unsuccessfully contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election on Congress ticket from Hamirpur against BJP’s Anurag Thakur. In 2012 assembly election, Thakur also unsuccessfully contested against Prem kumar Dhumal from Hamirpur assembly segment.

Narinder Thakur’s return to the BJP is seen as a major embarrassment for the Congress as Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had announced that he would be in charge of the party’s campaign in Hamirpur.

The Congress has pitted Rajinder Singh Rana, another BJP rebel, against Anurag Thakur.