In a surprising turn of events, former Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhwadia, who tendered his resignation from the party on March 4, has swiftly joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just a day after stepping down. Modhwadia’s decision to switch sides comes ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, indicating a significant shift in the political landscape of the state.
The 67-year-old leader, who represented the Porbandar seat, had been associated with the Congress for nearly four decades. His resignation from the grand old party was fueled by his dissatisfaction with the party’s stance on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir and the refusal of its top leaders to attend the consecration ceremony on January 22.
In a letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Modhwadia expressed his discontent and took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of attempting to create chaos during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam.
Alongside Modhwadia, Congress’s former working president Ambarish Der also joined the BJP on March 5. Both leaders were formally inducted into the BJP at the party’s state headquarters ‘Kamalam’ in Gandhinagar.
It’s noteworthy that the decision by Modhwadia and Der to quit the Congress coincided with the scheduled entry of Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Gujarat, indicating a strategic move ahead of the political event.
Modhwadia’s shift to the BJP makes him the third Congress MLA to resign in the last four months, following Chirag Patel and CJ Chavda, who left the party in December and January, respectively.
This move not only marks a significant political development in Gujarat but also adds momentum to the BJP’s preparations for the upcoming elections, as it gains two prominent leaders from the opposition.
