India's wealthiest woman, Savitri Jindal resigns from Congress, joins BJP in Haryana

• Savitri Jindal's resignation adds to Congress' challenges in Haryana as she joins BJP
• Her departure follows her son's move to BJP, further reshaping Haryana's political landscape
• Despite political setbacks, Savitri Jindal remains influential, holding significant roles in business and education spheres

In a significant blow to the Congress Party in Haryana, Savitri Jindal, the former state minister and India's wealthiest woman, announced her resignation from the party, days after her son, Naveen Jindal, Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move comes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP has nominated Naveen for the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat. Savitri shared her decision via social media, stating, "As an MLA, I have represented the people of Hisar for 10 years and served selflessly as a minister for the state of Haryana... today, based on my family's advice, I am resigning from the primary membership of the Congress party."

Savitri Jindal, who represented the Hisar constituency for a decade and held ministerial positions in the Haryana government, faced defeat in the 2014 Haryana assembly elections. Despite her political setbacks, she remains a prominent figure, recognized as one of India's wealthiest women, with a net worth of $29.6 billion as of March 28, 2024. Apart from her role as chairperson emerita of the OP Jindal Group, she serves as the president of Maharaja Agrasen College, Agroha, reflecting her continued influence beyond politics.