Patna,(BiharTimes): In a low key function, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday re-inducted former Rajya Sabha member Sabir Ali into its fold.

Ali quit the BJP a day after he had joined in March 2014 after protests from senior party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. 

Welcoming Ali, a native of east Champaran district in the state, the BJP's Bihar in-charge Bhupendra Yadav said: “Ali has fought much against discrimination towards the minority community and now wants to contribute to the cause further by joining the saffron brigade. We welcome him.”

Ali was a JD(U) MP till March 2014, when he was expelled from the party for praising Narendra Modi, then the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

He joined the saffron brigade on March 28, but was expelled the very next day after his induction faced severe criticism from party members, especially from vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who insinuated on Twitter that he had links with arrested Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal.

Ali filed a defamation case against Naqvi, but withdrew it later after the two agreed on an out of court settlement. 

Asked about his tiff with saffron leaders, Naqvi said he had been working with the BJP all along and that differences had been resolved.

“BJP is a big party and my heart is also very big in comparison to any small comment made on me,” he said, adding that there was some misunderstanding and misconception, and that he withdrew the case. 

Ali also said that he has no plans to contest in the Assembly polls and will do whatever work his party allots to him.