Dr Asha Patel, who recently resigned as Congress MLA from Unjha, joined the BJP on Friday at the party's convention held in Patan. After joining, Patel said there were 25 sulking MLAs in the Congress who may leave the party at any time. She also said that the Congress party in Gujarat is filled with filth.
Prior to joining the BJP, Patel met Haryana CM ML Khattar, Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani and former BJP MLA from Unjha, Naran Patel. A number of BJP leaders were present on the dais when Asha Patel along with 15 members of the Congress from Unjha Nagar Palika (municipality) and seven members from Unjha Taluka Panchayat joined the saffron party here.
After joining the party, Asha Patel gave the indication that there were some more MLAs from the Congress who could leave the party at any time.
"I was always insulted by leaders in Gujarat Congress and had been a victim of groupism within the party. Unrest among party MLAs came to the fore when the party had convened a meeting of MLAs in Gandhinagar circuit house and 25 MLAs, like me, had serious complaints against the leadership and had expressed their anguish, saying that they would join BJP."
"Recently, Bharat Thakor, MLA from Bechraji also expressed his feelings and that is the fact. The Congress is a party filled with filth and leaders would always suppress MLAs so that they could not perform and their career was finished," Asha Patel said.
Talking to media persons after the formality, Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani said, "We are ready to welcome people who wish to join us. They would work as our workers with all respects. As Ashaben also has agreed, she would do the work that would be assigned to her by the party. She has exposed the Congress and its work culture that is in bad shape."
The Congress chief in Gujarat Amit Chavda held this event as a betrayal. He said, "It should be her personal decision to join some party. But when any party or leader gains popularity, it is because of hard work of party workers and faith of common people. Ashaben has stabbed her voters and party workers in the back. The time will come when they show her place in the future."
There was a murmur in political circles of the BJP that former MLA from Unjha who bit the dust in assembly polls of 2017 against Asha Patel was not happy with the development. He, however, was present at the event.
He said, "Ayaraam gayaraam kind of happenings will continue both ways. The BJP is an ocean and whosoever joins the party gets a warm welcome. I have no resentment against anyone and I also welcome her wholeheartedly."
