Gujarat Election: ten MLA Mohansinh Rathva leaves the Congress and joins the BJP

Rathva has served in the legislative assembly for ten years. He now represents Gujarat’s central Chhota Udaipur (ST) seat.

Mohansinh Rathva, a senior leader in the Congress and a legislator, said on Tuesday that he was leaving the party and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dealing a severe blow to the party ahead of the Gujarat assembly elections. Rathva’s resignation letter was sent to Jagdish Thakor, the state congressman.

After submitting his letter of resignation, the former Congress leader travelled to Ahmedabad to the Gujarat BJP office, where state general secretaries Bhargav Bhatt and Pradeepsinh Vaghela officially welcomed him into the party.

Rathva has served in the legislative assembly for ten years. He now represents Gujarat’s central Chhota Udaipur (ST) seat. Prior to 2012, he served as a representative for the Chhota Udepur district’s Pavi-Jetpur (ST) seat.

After joining the ruling party, Rathva spoke to the media and declared that he is “100% positive” that the BJP will issue him a ticket for the forthcoming assembly elections. He said that he had “not sought a ticket,” nevertheless.

Rathva refuted that he left the Congress because the party refused to give his son a ticket, claiming that he made up his mind to join the BJP before the Congress had even made a decision.

“The Congress has never stated they won’t issue me a ticket” (for my son). Before Congress said anything, I made my decision. The work done in our tribal areas by the BJP government and PM Narendra Modi inspired me. I have chosen to join the BJP because of this, he told the journalists.