Lok Sabha elections: Dozen Congress members of Rajkot district panchayat join BJP

RAJKOT: In a major setback for the ruling Congress in the

Rajkot district

panchayat, a dozen of their elected members switched loyalties ahead of the

Lok Sabha elections

and joined BJP on Tuesday.

According to the rebel members, more Congress members are likely to join the BJP and the number could go up to 22 by end of March.

The rebel Congress members gathered near Hemu Gadhvi Hall in Rajkot and announced their decision on Tuesday afternoon. Of the 36 seats of the district panchayat, Congress had won 34 during the last election.

This move, sources said, would help the BJP in rural areas where the party faced setback during the 2017 assembly elections.

The 11 rebel leaders had violated the party whip in general board meeting soon after elections of new president Alpa Khatariya. The Congress office bearers have asked the district development officer (DDO) in Rajkot to cancel membership of the rebel members and ban them from contesting elections for next two terms.

Former president of district panchayat and leader of the rebel leaders, Nilesh Virani, said, “Twelve others are in contact with us and are planning to join the BJP in a week’s time.”

Later in the evening, the rebel leaders attended BJP’s Vijay Sankalp rally in the presence of Union ministers Suresh Prabhu and Parshottam Rupala.