Disgruntled over not being given a ticket to contest assembly election, senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Narhari Amin on Thursday joined the BJP and vowed to ensure defeat for his party for over two decades.
Amin and over 2000 of his supporters were heartily welcomed to BJP by Chief Minister Narendra Modi at a function held at the party headquarters in Ahmedabad. They were formally inducted in to the party with offering of a saffron scarf by Modi.
Speaking on the occasion, Modi said that it was an important event in Gujarat’s political history. "I believe that Narharibhai and his supporters would strengthen democratic forces and give a massive blow to family ruled party. The outcome of this strength will be seen on December 20” he added.
Giving the example of Amin, Modi said that Congress had the culture of back stabbing its own worker who has dedicated his life for the party. "People can forgive mistakes but won't forget deception or cheating. Congress has not only deceived the nation but its own party members," Modi claimed. "There can be mistakes in a democracy but no party has the right to back-stab its own workers. This kind of culture does not suit democracy. So the question is, which kind of democracy Gujarat needs. Clearly, the state does not need Congress type of democracy," the chief minister said.
Praising Amin for his decision to join BJP, Modi said, “This is not a small decision. It takes a lot of courage and conviction." Justifying joining hand with Amin and his supporters Modi said, "We are not doing this for wrested interest, but to serve the people of Gujarat, for better future of the state.” On his part Amin also showered praises on Modi and appreciated his work in the state. Amin further projected Modi a prime ministerial candidate for 2014 general election, and asked party workers to set the target and begin work from this very minute.
"Modi will complete his hat-trick this time with the wicket of the Congress," Amin said. "For the last 21 years I have served the Congress and worked towards strengthening the oraganisation, but when it came to decide tickets for the 2012 assembly polls there was no consideration of senior leaders like me," Amin said. He said that there was no reason for not giving him a ticket.
"We have decided to ensure defeat of Congress and victory for BJP with tremendous majority," Amin said, and committed that he and his supporters would mix in the BJP like sugar in milk. The former deputy chief minister of Gujarat had lost in two previous assembly poll in 2002 and 2007 when he contested on Congress ticket from Sabarmati seat in Ahmedabad and Matar in Gandhinagar respectively. He was deputy CM in Chimanbhai Patel government.
Shakes hand with GCA bitter rival
Senior Congress leader Narhari Amin seems to have buried the hatched with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who had dethroned him from the helm of the cash-rich Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), by joining the BJP on Thursday. Amin, who till a few months ago had been leveling charges against Modi for not being able to run GCA properly, described Gujarat Chief Minister as the only alternative for Gujarat. In Spetember 2009, Modi took over the reins of the GCA from Amin after he was elected as its President in the Annual General Meeting. GCA was till then controlled by Congress leader for over a decade. But Modi's then Home Minister Amit Shah was engaged in long drawn political as well as legal battle with Amin group for the over one and half years to get control of cash rich GCA. Shah, an accused in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, was later made the vice president of the GCA. Before getting control of GCA, the BJP had managed to win over the Central Board of Cricket of Ahmedabad (CBCA) which is a part of GCA from the Congress group, after which Amin had to resign. According to BJP soruces, after his induction in the party, Amin could once again become part of the GCA. Amin is likely to be given post of vice president of GCA, senior BJP members claimed. However, there was no formal announcement.