- The change that is going to happen in the country (in 2024) also happens in Gujarat: Rathva
- Congess works to serve people and not just to grab power: Shaktisinh Gohil
- Vishwa Hindustani Sangathan Party (VHSP) Aditya Raval merges his outfit with Congress on Tuesday
NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 12
Ahead of Lok Sabha elections the exodus of leaders from AAP to Congress continues in Gujarat, signalling the tribal base of Gujarat getting strengthened under the newly-installed GPCC chief.
ભાજપ અને આમ આદમી પાર્ટીના ઘણા નેતાઓ અને કાર્યકરો આજે ગુજરાત પ્રદેશ કોંગ્રેસ સમિતિના પ્રમુખશ્રી @shaktisinhgohil જી અને રાજ્યસભાના સાંસદ નારણભાઈ રાઠવા જી ના હસ્તે કોંગ્રેસ પક્ષમાં જોડાયા. pic.twitter.com/0nO1Qr0ess
— Gujarat Congress (@INCGujarat) September 12, 2023
Former vice president of Gujarat Unit Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and tribal leader Arjun Rathva joined the Congress on Tuesday. He was welcomed into the Congress fold by its Gujarat unit chief Shaktisinh Gohil.
•આમ આદમી પાર્ટી, ભારતીય જનતા પાર્ટીના હોદ્દેદારો, કાર્યકરો અને આગેવાનો તિરંગો ખેસ ધારણ કરીને કોંગ્રેસ પક્ષમાં વિધીવત રીતે જોડાયા.
•ઘણા લાંબા સમયથી આમ આદમી પાર્ટી સાથે જોડાયેલા, આદિવાસી સમાજના નેતા, પ્રદેશના ઉપાધ્યક્ષ, ૨૦૨૨ની વિધાનસભાની ચૂંટણીમાં ૪૫,૦૦૦થી વધુ વોટ મેળવનાર શ્રી… pic.twitter.com/zttCXMmXDp— Gujarat Congress (@INCGujarat) September 12, 2023
Rathva, who was with AAP for nearly a decade and contested the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, said that he decided to join Congress to strengthen it to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Rathva resigned last week after claiming that local leaders of AAP were not being included in the decision-making process.
કોમન યુનિવર્સિટી એક્ટ સામે સમગ્ર રાજ્યની ગ્રાન્ટેડ કોલેજોમાં લેક્ચરર્સ અને પ્રોફેસરો દ્વારા બ્લેક રિબન પેરી વિરોધ કરવામાં આવ્યો.
આ એક્ટ લાગુ થશે તો ખાનગીકરણને વેગ મળશે તેમજ ગ્રાન્ટ ઈન એડ સંસ્થાઓના સંચાલકોની સ્વાયત્તા નાબૂદ થઈ શકે છે. pic.twitter.com/7ApMF5JtjN
— Gujarat Congress (@INCGujarat) September 12, 2023
“I was with AAP since 2013 as I wanted to fight for justice, education, and health. I wanted a corruption-free government for the people of Gujarat and worked against forces dividing people. I never desired power,” he told media persons. Rathva said notwithstanding the challenge of AAP and Congress, the BJP retained power in Gujarat with a huge mandate in the 2022 assembly polls.
“Whether I am in AAP or Congress, my sole aim is to fight BJP. The change that is going to happen in the country (in 2024) also happens in Gujarat. It is for this purpose that I have joined Congress,” he said. Both Congress and AAP are constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc.
On Tuesday, the president of the lesser-known Vishwa Hindustani Sangathan Party (VHSP) Aditya Raval merged his outfit with Congress at an event organised at the Congress headquarters in Ahmedabad. Raval claimed VHSP has around 8 lakh members and they decided to merge with Congress to work for its victory in the 2024 general elections.
He alleged people are frustrated with the BJP due to various issues and inflation which the ruling party is unable to control. “We will work with the sole aim of defeating BJP,” Raval added.
Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil told media persons that the party works to serve people and not just to grab power. “Amid corruption and arrogance, people are facing difficulties while some prosper,” he claimed.