In a jolt to the Congress ahead of Lok Sabha polls, retired Indian Administrative Service officer Bhagirath Prasad, whom the party had declared its candidate from Bhind seat in Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Prasad, who was announced the Congress candidate from Bhind seat only on Saturday, had unsuccessfully contested the last Lok Sabha elections on the party ticket from the same seat.

This time also the Congress relied on him and nominated him from the same seat, but today he switched over to the saffron party.