Ram Sharan Nautiyal has joined the Congress, Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal said in Delhi, describing the move as part of what he called a continuing shift of people from the BJP to the opposition party.

Sappal linked Nautiyal’s decision to what he described as public distress over the BJP’s governance of Uttarakhand. He alleged that the state was facing “lies, hooliganism, a sense of insecurity, and corruption”. These were political claims made by Sappal and were not independently established in the available material.

Reports by Hindustan Times, Millenniumand The Times of India identified Ramsharan Nautiyal as the father of singer Jubin Nautiyal. Those reports said he had rejoined the Congress after 12 years, following his departure from the BJP days earlier. The reports were published on 19 October 2026.

Sappal’s criticism of investment claims

Sappal also referred to a recent by Rahul Gandhi and criticised what he described as the Uttarakhand government’s understanding of investment. He said the concept of investment was being reduced to a “mockery” and called the situation “a complete joke—an absolute farce”.

He contrasted those claims with the Congress’s record in government, pointing to the establishment of several SIDCULs, or industrial complexes. Sappal said such industrial development represented genuine investment.

He further criticised the suggestion that a local person opening a small shop should be counted as “investment coming in from outside”. Sappal attributed that position to Pushkar Singh Dhami and called it “the ultimate joke”.

The comments place Nautiyal’s return to Congress within a broader political dispute over investment, industrial development and governance in Uttarakhand. a response from the BJP, the Uttarakhand government, Pushkar Singh Dhami or Nautiyal to Sappal’s remarks is not yet available.

What the move means politically

Nautiyal’s party switch gives Congress an opportunity to highlight a change in political allegiance involving a figure linked to Uttarakhand. The reports describing the move as a return to Congress also connect it with his recent exit from the BJP.

Sappal presented the decision as evidence of a wider trend, but the available report provides no number of people who have moved from the BJP to Congress. It also does not detail Nautiyal’s role, responsibilities or plans within the Congress after joining the party.

For readers, the immediate significance is political rather than administrative. The move has prompted Congress to renew its criticism of the state government’s record and its claims about outside investment, while the BJP’s position on the allegations remains unavailable in the supplied material.

Conclusion

Ram Sharan Nautiyal’s return to Congress has become part of the party’s political criticism of BJP governance in Uttarakhand. Congress has linked the move to wider dissatisfaction and a dispute over what qualifies as real investment, while no opposing response is available in the reported material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who has joined the Congress?

Ram Sharan Nautiyal has joined the Congress, according to Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal.

Q. Where did Sappal make the statement?

Sappal made the statement in Delhi.

Q. Who is Ram Sharan Nautiyal identified as in background reports?

Hindustan Times, Millenniumand The Times of India identified him as the father of singer Jubin Nautiyal.

Q. What did the background reports say about his political history?

They reported that he rejoined the Congress after 12 years, days after leaving the BJP.

Q. What allegations did Sappal make about Uttarakhand?

Sappal alleged that the state was facing lies, hooliganism, insecurity and corruption under BJP governance.

Q. What did Sappal say about investment?

He said the establishment of SIDCULs, or industrial complexes, represented real investment and criticised counting a local person’s small shop as outside investment.

Q. Was a BJP response included?

No response from the BJP, the Uttarakhand government, Pushkar Singh Dhami or Nautiyal was included in the available material.