Rajkot: Striking a significant blow to the Gujarat Congress, senior officials from Saurashtra, on Thursday joined the Aam Aadmi Party. The Congress party is already in peril, with Hardik Patel, the Congress working president and a Patidar leader, publicly rejecting the party’s functioning just a few days ago.
On Thursday, senior Congress politicians from Saurashtra, including ex-MLAs Indranil Rajyaguru and Vasram Sagathiya, as well as Congress corporator Komalben Bharai, joined the Aam Aadmi Party.
Rajguru, a former Congress MLA, wields power in Saurashtra, whilst Sagathiya is a powerful backward class leader. Bharai is the Rabari samaj’s leader.
Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP’s national convener, welcomed the new leaders and promised to work together to satisfy all of Gujarat’s aspirations.
“I welcome Indranil Rajguru ji and Vasrambhai Sagathia ji to the Aam Aadmi Party. Together, we all have to fulfil every expectation of the people of Gujarat,” Arvind Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.
Rajguru told the media after joining the AAP that he joined because Arvind Kejriwal is a social activist.
“There is no corruption in Delhi or Punjab under the AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal. People in Gujarat are too afraid to even consider accepting a bribe,” said Rajguru.
“The Congress cannot defeat BJP. I do not want BJP to retake power. I will run in elections if the party orders it, but my motivation is to help the party. We want Gujarat to be free of corruption,” he added.