The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formed a new panel to vet politicians of other parties who might approach to join the party ahead of 2024 General elections slated to be held in March-April.
According to media reports quoting sources from the party, the panel will decide whether to accept or reject the politicians who want to join the party.
The BJP wants to minimise the risk of recruiting those who may not remain loyal once they are elected to parliament.
Those seeking to cross the floor will be allowed to join only after the committee gives approval. The first meeting of the committee is likely to be held on January 6.
BJP sources also told media that the panel is unlikely to tolerate defectors from other parties making demands, such as appointment to high positions, in return for their alleigiance.
Senior members of the saffron party, including Federal Ministers Bhupendra Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnav, Assam State Chief Himanta Biswa Sarma and general secretaries Tarun Chugh and Sunil Bansal, met in New Delhi to discuss strategies for the upcoming Parliamentary Polls and consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya city of Uttar Pradesh.