Gujarat Cong MLA quits party to join BJP

Gandhinagar: Barely months ahead of the Assembly polls, tribal leader and three-time MLA Ashwin Kotwal resigned from the party on Tuesday and joined the ruling BJP in Gujarat citing ‘injustice’ in the party.Kotwal (58), who represents the Khedbrahma (SC) seat in Sabarkantha district, had won the polls in 2007, 2012 and 2017.

Kotwal was welcomed into the BJP by State unit president C R Paatil in Gandhinagar.The Assembly secretariat informed that Kotwal’s resignation was accepted by Speaker Nimaben Acharya.”I was not happy with the Congress’s functioning. Instead of giving tickets to those who are popular among the masses, the party leadership used to favour only those who remained loyal to them. I fear they can also deny me a ticket in future and because of such injustice, I am now joining the BJP,” Kotwal told reporters.

With Kotwal’s resignation, the Congress’ strength in the 182-member Assembly has reduced to 63, while the BJP enjoys a majority with 111 members.