In the past couple of years, it was the opposition Congress that was facing an exodus in Gujarat. Now, it is the turn of the new entrant Aam Aadmi Party to see its lawmakers resign and join the ruling BJP.
On Friday, five corporators, including four women, from Surat joined the BJP at a ceremony at the party headquarter in Gandhinagar. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, who hails from Surat, was also present.
Earlier, in January, diamond merchant and Patidar leader Mahesh Savani had quit the party. Though he has not joined any political party, rumours were rife that he quit AAP under BJP’s pressure. While resigning from the party, Savani said that he wants to do social service.
The exodus from AAP is significant since Gujarat goes to assembly polls this year.
State BJP president C.R. Patil has time and again made it clear about his intentions of ensuring that the party wins the highest number of seats in the 182-member assembly.
Soon after the corporators joined the BJP, AAP leader Isudan Ghadvi took to social media to say that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for the people of the state but sought their support for the truth. He went on to add that they will fight and win.
AAP leaders in Surat alleged that the BJP was trying to “buy” their corporators with money. State AAP president Gopal Italia also alleged that money had changed hands.
