Shambhu Shrivatava, general secretary of the Samata Party, quit the party on Monday and joined the Congress party.
He made a scathing attack on his one-time mentor, Samata president and Defence Minister George Fernandes, dubbing him 'the most unapologetic and vocal supporter of divisive forces' represented by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sangh Parivar.
"I expected that you as the NDA convenor and party president will play a lead role in reversing the dangerous trends. I am sorry to say instead of trying to change things you became the most unapologetic and vocal supporter of divisive forces represented by the BJP, the VHP and other members of the Sangh Parivar," he told Fernandes in a letter.
"My disillusionment with you and the National Democratic Alliance is complete. Instead of allies changing and sobering the BJP, the BJP is changing and saffronising them. It would, therefore, be unethical for me to continue the association with the party," he added.
All India Congress Committee general secretary R K Dhawan and senior leader Ahmed Patel welcomed Shrivastava, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, into the party fold.
Shrivastava, who had strongly defended the defence minister and then president of the party Jaya Jaitly in the wake of Tehelka scam, said he stood by whatever stand the Congress has taken in the matter.
He said there was a 'feeling of unease' in him about his continuance in Samata and the ruling NDA after the BJP government in Gujarat 'supported' riots in the state.
