by: Nav Jeevan

Ahead of Gujarat Assembly polls, Cong leader Gadhvi joins AAP; Ex-Cong MLA Manilal Vaghela switches over to BJP

NE NEWS SERVICE

AHMEDABAD, APRIL 24

Gujarat Congress leader Kailash Gadhvi on Sunday joined the Aam Aadmi Party here and said he will continue to fight the “arrogant” BJP government in the state.

Gadhvi, a former Congress spokesperson, formally switched sides along with 300 Congress functionaries a day after meeting AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Gadhvi said the BJ[P government in Gujarat had failed to provide health and education facilities as well as safety and jobs to people, adding that the ruling dispensation had made the state a “laboratory of politics” during its 27-year rule.

AAP MLA in Delhi and the partyโ€™s Gujarat in charge Gulab Singh Rajput said it was an encouraging sign that leaders from the BJP and the Congress were joining his party here and said more big names were headed the AAPโ€™s way in the state where polls are scheduled for later this year.

He attacked the Bhupendra Patel government over exam paper leaks that have taken place in the state recently and said his party, if voted to power, would curb such incidents.

ย Ex-Cong MLA Manilal Vaghela joins BJP

Former Congress MLA Manilal Vaghela, who was denied ticket by the party in the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, joined the BJP on Sunday along with several of his supporters, ahead of the state polls due in December this year.

Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil welcomed Vaghela with a party scarf at the “Vijay Vishwas Sammelan” in Vadgam town of Banaskantha district.

Vaghela had won the 2012 state election on Congressโ€™s ticket from Vadgam seat, but was denied ticket in the 2017 Assembly election after the party decided to support independent candidate and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who won by defeating his BJP rival.

Vaghela, who was associated with Congress for a long time, had resigned from the party in November last year, citing displeasure over the party sidelining him for Mevani.

He had expressed objection to Mevaniโ€™s “provoctive speeches” and Dalit identity politics. Notably, Mevani was arrested a few days back by the Assam police from Palanpur town in Banaskantha over a tweet. He is currently in the Assam policeโ€™s custody after his bail plea was rejected by a court in the north-eastern state.

Soon after joining the BJP, Vaghela criticised the Congress, terming it as a “direction-less party” with nobody to hear the grievances of Congress workers.

Vaghela said he will ensure the BJP victory from the Vadgam seat, which is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates.

“I contacted people from the area and after visiting different villages and meeting sarpanchs and others, I decided to join the BJP. I will ensure that this seat is won by the BJP, irrespective of who gets the ticket to contest from the seat,” he said.