The saying that in politics there are no permanent friends or foes holds merit as several Lok Sabha poll contenders from both ruling BJP and Opposition Congress in Gujarat have their 'roots' in rival parties.
While 11 out of the 26 BJP nominees are either 'imported' from Congress, or their family roots can be traced back to that party, Congress too has three nominees having their foundation in BJP.
Vinod Chavda, who will be contesting on BJP ticket from Kutchh(SC), was associated with Congress till 2010. He started his political career as a student leader with that party, backed student wing NSUI and joined youth Congress.
According to Congress, he switched sides in 2010 when BJP offered him a ticket for zilla panchayat election.
BJP MLA Poonam Madam, fighting from Jamnagar seat on BJP ticket, is the niece of sitting Congress MP from Jamanagar Vikram Madam. Congress leaders claimed that the whole Madam family, including Poonam, has been associated with Congress.
Poonam was the general secretary of Women's Congress in Jamanagar, but switched her loyalty after she was denied ticket in 2012 Assembly election. She then won as MLA from Khambhaliya on BJP ticket and is now pitted against her uncle Vikram Madam.
Vitthal Radadia, who has been given BJP ticket from Porbandar seat, was a Congress loyalist for years. He won thrice as MLA and once as MP from same seat on Congress ticket. His son Jayesh Radadia also won as Congress MLA from Jetpur.
Giving a huge jolt to Congress, the father-son duo left Congress in 2012 and joined BJP after resigning from their respective positions as MP and MLA.
For Surendranagar seat, BJP has given ticket to Devji Fatehpura, who joined the party four months back. He won as MLA from Halvad on Congress ticket in 2007. He was again given Assembly ticket by Congress for Chotila seat in 2012, but he lost.
Liladhar Vaghela, chosen for Patan seat by BJP, had been a veteran Congress leader before switching sides. He won his first election as MLA from Diodar on Congress ticket and retained it till 1985. He joined BJP in 1995.
