Just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress in Gujarat suffered a setback of sorts as some party leaders in Bharuch district quit the party and joined the BJP.
Just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress in Gujarat suffered a setback of sorts on Sunday as some party leaders in Bharuch district quit the party and joined the BJP. Sources said more Congress leaders are expected to join BJP in the run-up to the election.
Among those who quit Congress are some co-operative leaders who hold importance in the politics of Bharuch district, which incidentally is home district of Ahmed Patel, political advisor to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Over 500 workers of Bharuch Congress gathered at the state BJP office in Khanpur on Sunday. They were welcomed by BJP state president Purshottam Rupala and other leaders.
“Congress leaders, who have come from area of Ahmed Patel, are now with BJP,” Rupala informed the mediapersons. “We have made a dent into the Congress’s presence in the district,” he added.
Former district president of Congress Arunsinh Rana, who is among those who joined BJP, is said to have played a crucial role in the defection. Rana is believed to be a close aide of Ahmed Patel. Karsan Patel, who contested from Ankleshwar seat in the assembly elections held in 2007, is another major leader who joined the BJP. The president in-charge of the Congress’s Bharuch district unit, Dharmendrasinh Mahida, expressed his disappointment, “Arunsinh and all those who have joined the BJP have betrayed the Congress and Ahmed Patel.”
The defection of Congress leaders, of which three belong to the minority community, is likely to cost the party dear in the district panchayat. It has reduced the Congress in minority in Bharuch district panchayat and BJP is set to come to power. The BJP has won the Bharuch seat in the last Lok Sabha election. Mansukh Vasava of BJP had emerged victorious by 72,202 votes. Vasava is again contesting on the BJP ticket, while Aziz Tankarvi is Congress candidates.
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