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In a major setback to opposition Congress in Gujarat ahead of the general elections, two-time MLA and a staunch Rajiv Gandhi loyalist Surendra Rajput today quit the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here with his supporters.
Rajput, who was elected to the state legislative assembly from 1980-85 and 1985-90, was vice-president of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) and an All India Congress Committee (AICC) delegate from the state. After joining BJP, he said "The country requires the leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at this juncture. He is a leader who takes all classes of people together. I have worked for 42 years with the Congress party. But, I am joining BJP today."
When asked the reason behind joining BJP at this point of time, he said "I have taken this decision after a lot of deliberations and considerations. I have talked to my supporters and voters. We felt that the country requires the leadership of Modi at this juncture. He has the support of people from across the country." He, however, refrained from giving direct replies to queries on joining the saffron party after spending more than 40 years in the Congress party.
Rajput, who is based in Ahmedabad, joined BJP with his son Saumil and many of his supporters. He started his political career through Congress party's labour union Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and fought for workers who lost their jobs following closure of textile mills in city.
His decision to quit the Congress party and join BJP comes at a time when the party is grappling with the resignations of MLAs Rajendrasinh Chavda, Jasa Barad and Bavku Undhad. Rajendrasinh Chavda, MLA from Himmatnagar Assembly seat submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker Vajubhai Vala today.
