Once a staunch opponent, Patidar leader Hardik Patel now joins BJP

Ahmedabad: Former Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gandhinagar.

Hardik officially joined the party in the afternoon at Srikamlam, Koba, near the party's state headquarters, capital Gandhinagar.

Months before the Assembly polls in the state, he joined the saffron party in the presence of the party's Gujarat unit chief CR Patil, former deputy CM Nitin Patel.

Hardik, who was once a staunch opponent of BJP, today recited odes in the pride of the party and Prime Minister Modi. He also made a strong attack on the Congress party.

Before joining BJP, he also did a road show from Koba to Srikalam.

Later talking to reporters, he praised Shri Modi for providing 10 percent reservation for Economically Weaker Section (EWS). He said that he would help the families of the youths who were martyred in the Patidar reservation movement.

Earlier, in his tweet message, Hardik said, 'With the feelings of national interest, state interest, public interest and social interest, I am going to start a new chapter from today. I will work as a small soldier in the work of serving the nation under the leadership of the successful Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Bhai Modi ji.

On the other hand, BJP, which considered Hardik as a staunch opponent in the past, changed his heart and described him as a young patriotic leader in its poster.

It is worth noting that on the instructions of the Gujarat government, a case of sedition was filed against him in the past. Before joining the BJP, Hardik had organized special pujas at his home and at the SGVP temple.

On May 18, he resigned from the primary membership of the party in a scathing attack on the top and state leadership of the Congress.

It is worth noting that 28-year-old Hardik, who came into the limelight after the 2015 Patidar reservation movement, duly joined the Congress in March 2019 before the last Lok Sabha elections and in July 2020, he was made the working president of the main opposition party of the state. (UNI)