The Gujarat Congress was down by one more MLA as Chhabil Patel representing Abdasa assembly seat in Kutch district resigned Monday to join the BJP.
He became the sixth Congress MLA to resign after 2012 assembly election and the third to have resigned even as the budget session is on. With Patel switching loyalities, the Congress in the house of 182, is now left with 51 seats.
The Congress came into damage control mode with general secretary in charge of Gujarat, Gurudas Kamat rushing to contain the exodus. He is expected to be meeting the remaining MLAs.
Patel, who remained absent in the on going assembly session, submitted his resignation to Speaker Vaju Vala during the break in the first session.
The two-time MLA Patel reasoned that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is the only right choice for the PM post, he decided to come back to the BJP that he had left 18 years back.
” I want him (Modi) to become PM and lead the country. By joining the BJP I want to make my contribution as soldier”, said Patel soon after putting in his papers.
He maintained that his reunion with the BJP is unconditional and he did not expect any reward.
Like some of MLAs who switched loyalties – Vitthal Radadiya (Dhoraji), Jasa Barad ( Somnath), Patel was also originally from BJP and had supported former CM Shankersinh Vaghela in 1997 to topple the Keshubhai Patel government, to form the Rashtriya Janata Party, which was later merged with the Congress.
Earlier, Himmatnagar MLA Rajendra Chavda, Jetpur MLA and son of Vitthal Radadiya, Jayesh and GPP Visavadar MLA Keshubhai Patel have also resigned.
Except Keshubhai, all the others have joined the BJP. Keshubhai, however, citing ill health resigned after his son Bharat joined the BJP.
Sixth congress MLA in Gujarat resigns, switches to BJP | The Indian Express
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