Former Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia joined the BJP on Tuesday, a day after resigning from the grand old party.

Expressing anguish over the party’s decision to “boycott” Lord Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, Modhwadia, in the presence of state BJP chief CR Paatil, joined the BJP at the party office here.

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Among others, former Rajula MLA and one of the strongest Ahir leaders of the Congress, Ambarish Der, who had quit the Congress on Monday, also joined the saffron party.

State BJP chief Paatil inducted them into the party by offering them saffron caps and scarves.

Both the leaders announced their decision to quit the Congress just three days ahead of the scheduled entry of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Gujarat.

Changing his profile on X, Modhwadia expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among others. He said, “Today is the beginning of a new political innings of my life. I got associated with politics with the aim of bringing economic and social change in every section of the society. I am confident that I will be successful in pursuing this objective under the capable and strong leadership of PM Modi.”

After joining the BJP, Modhwadia told the media that akin to the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Saheb (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) before Independence, today the country is being led by two Gujaratis – Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. “Narendra Bhai’s dream is to make a developed India and the dream of economic and social freedom can be fulfilled only in a developed India,” he said.

Modhwadia said today, the entire country was supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. “The party (Congress) has lost touch with the public and there is no scope for bringing change there.”

He stated that when the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav of Ram Temple was organised, the invitation given by the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust was rejected by the Congress and public sentiments were insulted. “This incident tells us that the Congress leadership has nothing to do with what the people want. Many Congress workers got upset with this…,” he added.

Former Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president and sitting MLA from Porbandar, Modhwadia has been one of the loyal leaders of the grand old party who had risen through ranks and had remained steadfast with the party in Gujarat during its most challenging times.

With Modhwadia joining the BJP, Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s contest from Porbandar would be easier as apart from the Leuva Patidars, the subcaste of Patidars to which Mandaviya belongs, the Mher community dominates the constituency and Arjun Modhwadia is the tallest leader of the community.