Ex-Cong MLA Manilal Vaghela joins BJP forward of Gujarat Assembly polls

By PTI

AHMEDABAD: Former Congress MLA Manilal Vaghela, who was denied ticket by the occasion within the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, joined the BJP on Sunday together with a number of of his supporters, forward of the state polls due in December this yr.

Gujarat BJP president C R Paatil welcomed Vaghela with a celebration scarf on the ‘Vijay Vishwas Sammelan’ in Vadgam city of Banaskantha district.

Vaghela had received the 2012 state election on Congress’s ticket from Vadgam seat, however was denied ticket within the 2017 Assembly election after the occasion determined to help unbiased candidate and Dalit chief Jignesh Mevani, who received by defeating his BJP rival.

Vaghela, who was related to Congress for a very long time, had resigned from the occasion in November final yr, citing displeasure over the occasion sidelining him for Mevani. He had expressed objection to Mevani’s “provoctive speeches” and Dalit id politics.

Notably, Mevani was arrested just a few days again by the Assam police from Palanpur city in Banaskantha over a tweet. He is presently within the Assam police’s custody after his bail plea was rejected by a courtroom within the north- jap state.

Soon after becoming a member of the BJP, Vaghela criticised the Congress, terming it as a “direction-less party” with no person to listen to the grievances of Congress staff.

Vaghela mentioned he’ll make sure the BJP victory from the Vadgam seat, which is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates.

“I contacted people from the area and after visiting different villages and meeting sarpanchs and others, I decided to join the BJP. I will ensure that this seat is won by the BJP, irrespective of who gets the ticket to contest from the seat,” he mentioned.