Gujarat Congress MLA Count May Drop To Single Digits As More Leaders Consider Joining BJP During Rahul Gandhi's Yatra In The State

Several Congress MLAs and other leaders are reportedly planning to resign from the Congress and join the BJP during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Gujarat, sources familiar with the situation said as per a report by The New Indian Express.

There are allegations from some Congress leaders that the BJP is orchestrating these resignations to divert attention from the Nyay Yatra, which is scheduled to enter Gujarat on 7 March and cover 400 kilometres in seven districts over four days before moving on to Maharashtra.

On Monday, while Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil was providing details about Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra in Ahmedabad, former state party chief Arjun Modhwadia resigned as a Congress MLA.

Modhwadia, along with former working president Ambarish Der, joined the BJP on Tuesday (5 March), a day after resigning from the Congress due to dissatisfaction with the Congress’ decision to boycott the Lord Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya in January.

"Around three Congress MLAs, mostly from North Gujarat, along with a former MLA and a senior powerful OBC leader, are expected to join the BJP," said a Congress leader who preferred not to be named.

"These leaders are likely to join the BJP during former Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra in Gujarat. This move by the BJP is seen as an attempt to divert attention from the Yatra," he added.

"I have also learned that some former MLAs, MPs, city and district presidents, and senior figures from Saurashtra and South Gujarat are in contact with the BJP and are expected to join soon," the Congress leader claimed.

There has been no immediate reaction from the BJP regarding these claims.

Over the last three months, more than 10 Gujarat Congress leaders have joined the BJP, reducing Congress’ strength in the 182-member assembly to 14.