In a major setback to the Congress ahead of the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, another MLA quit the party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This is the second day that an MLA has switched allegiance and joined the BJP just ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections.
On Wednesday, senior MLA Bhagwan Brar resigned from the post of MLA and primary member. Bhagwan Brar will join the saffron party. Bhagwan Brar, who represents Talala seat of Gir Somnath district, has sent his resignation to Gujarat Congress President Jagdish Thakor.
He also submitted his resignation to Speaker Nimaben Acharya.
Later, Bhagwan Barad told reporters in Gandhinagar that he had decided to quit the party after consulting his supporters and would join the Bharatiya Janata Party without any pre-conditions to get an election ticket.
A day earlier, Congress veteran and tribal leader Mohansinh Rathwa resigned as MLA and party member to jump to the BJP just ahead of the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections.
Mohan Singh Rathwa, a prominent tribal leader, has been elected Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for 10 times. Mohan Singh Rathwa represents the Chhota Udaipur (ST) constituency in central Gujarat.
After resigning as an MLA and from the primary membership of the Congress, Mohansinh Rathwa announced that he would not seek ticket for next month’s Gujarat Assembly elections. But, Rathwa said, he wanted the BJP to field his son Rajendrasinh Rathwa from his seat.
Gujarat will go to polls in two phases on December 1 and 5. Counting of votes will take place on December 8. The counting of votes for the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections will be held on 8 December. In the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, the Congress won 77 seats, limiting the BJP’s tally to 99 in the 182-member house.
(with agency input)
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