A former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, who represented the Dabhoi seat in Vadodara district between 2012 and 2017, resigned from the party and joined the Congress ahead of the assembly elections in Gujarat. Balkrishna Patel claimed that despite his hard work and commitment for the development of the BJP, he was constantly sidelined in the party.
Gujarat Congress president Jagdish Thakor and former president Siddharth Patel, who was defeated by Balkrishna in 2012, welcomed him into the party.
“I had worked hard for many years to strengthen the BJP at the district and taluka level. I was not given a ticket for the 2017 elections though I was a sitting MLA then. Even my son was not given a ticket in the crucial district panchayat election.
“I quit the BJP because I was constantly being neglected and sidelined,” the former MLA told reporters. He also confirmed that joining Congress is not bound by any condition of party ticket for him or his son. upcoming elections,
In 2017, the BJP chose Shailesh Mehta over Balkrishna, who was then the sitting MLA of the constituency. Shailesh Mehta had defeated Siddharth Patel that year and is expected to contest again this year, representing the saffron party.
In other political developments in the state, Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his decision to ban firecrackers in Delhi during the Diwali festival.
“Today I read some news that Delhi Chief Minister has banned firecrackers in Delhi. That brother is trying to come here (for Gujarat elections). Then how will you burst firecrackers? So please such anti-religious people. and against those firecrackers that prevent us from celebrating our festivals.”
for the third consecutive year, Aam Aadmi Party The (AAP)-led Delhi government imposed a complete ban on the production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers, including Diwali, till January 1, 2023. Environment Minister Gopal Rai had recently said that bursting of crackers on Diwali in Delhi is punishable with a jail term of six months and a 200 fine.
With inputs from PTI.
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