New Delhi: Former Indian Air Force Chief, Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, made a significant move on Sunday by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Bhadauria's induction into the party took place in the presence of BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde and Union Minister Anurag Thakur.

Having retired from his role as the Air Staff Chief in September 2021, Bhadauria passed the torch to the current chief, Vivek Ram Chaudhari. His journey in the Indian Air Force began when he joined the fighter stream in June 1980. Throughout his illustrious career, Bhadauria's leadership stood out notably during the commercial negotiations for the Rs 59,000-crore deal with France for 36 multi-role Rafale fighter aircraft in 2016. Over his nearly 40-year tenure in the IAF, Bhadauria played a significant role in advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Vinod Tawde lauded Bhadauria's extensive service in the armed forces and expressed confidence in his ability to make meaningful contributions to the political arena following his distinguished career in the IAF. Hailing from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Bhadauria's entry into the BJP comes at a crucial time when the party is yet to finalize candidates for several constituencies in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In addition to Bhadauria, Varaprasad Rao Velagapalli, formerly of the YSR Congress Party, also joined the BJP. This move evokes memories of former Army Chief General VK Singh's decision to join the BJP in 2014 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Singh had then emphasized that the BJP stood as the "only party" in India that upheld nationalist principles.

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