New Delhi, Jan 19 (UNI) Late Chief of Defence Staff (CSD) General Bipin Rawat's brother retired Colonel Vijay Rawat joined the BJP at party headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Rawat joined the BJP in presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who remembered the late CDS.
"General Bipin Rawat was the pride of Uttarakhand. He wanted to work in Uttarakhand... I am happy, to take forward his ideas, Col Vijay Rawat is joining the BJP," Dhami said.
"I am also the son of a soldier. I had close relations with General Rawat. I always felt an emptiness after his death. I am happy Col Vijay Rawat is joining us," Dhami said.
Dhami said the BJP has always respected soldiers and said One Rank One Pension was implemented by the Narendra Modi government.
Col Rawat said he joined BJP as he felt inspired by the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.
"My father was with the BJP when Uttarakhand was formed. He had been with BJP after retiring from the Army. Now after retirement I have got this opportunity to work with BJP" Col Vijay Rawat.
He said he was influenced by the ideas and policies of Prime Minister Modi.
Uttarakhand, which goes to polls on February 14, has a sizable number of voters from families which have retired or serving soldiers. Around 12.5 lakhs out of the over 79 lakh voters are linked to ex-servicemen.
UNI AO RKM