‘Disillusioned’ with AAP, several leaders, over 500 workers join Congress in Gujarat

While senior Congress leaders assured the new joinees that their “honour would be preserved”, AAP Gujarat president Isudan Gadhvi termed the move a reflection of “insecurity” among the “few”. “During over 200 jansabha organised from August 1-6, over 5,000 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress workers have joined the AAP while we have witnessed over 1 lakh people on the ground during these sabhas. I have the official data of that. The party is becoming bigger and moving towards forming the next government in Gujarat. Ex-MLAs of Congress will soon be joining the AAP. Seeing so many Congress and BJP leaders join the AAP, there is a feeling of insecurity among a few. Soon, more will join the AAP,” Gadhvi told The Indian Express.

Others to join the Congress on Sunday were Kantiji Thakor, the Kalol Assembly Candidate of the AAP; Rambhai Yadav, State Joint Secretary; Rajeshbhai Bhatt, District Secretary, Gandhinagar; Narendrasinh Dabhi, District Secretary; Natwarsinh Dabhi, Ward President; Pravinbhai Sasla, Ahmedabad City Secretary; and Ashokbhai Yadav, Ahmedabad City Legal Chairman.

Those who quit the AAP claimed the party was only working to break away the votes of the anti-incumbent Congress and to make the BJP win. “…AAP leaders coming from Delhi were only giving orders in support of the BJP. Finally, after knowing the truth, that the Congress is the only party that can take everyone along and is capable of challenging the dictatorial rule of the BJP, and is working with a people-oriented approach by confronting the BJP’s policy of fear, hunger and corruption (the former AAP leaders and workers joined the grand old party). We will remain committed to taking the Congress ideology to the masses,” a statement issued by the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) stated.

Wasnik said the ideology of the Congress is to take everyone along. Due to the anti-people policy of the BJP, all sections of the society are troubled, he added. “Economic inequality is increasing in the country. The poor are becoming extremely poor. The rich are becoming richer. The policy of the BJP government is harmful to the poor-common-middle class folks. Inflation and unemployment is continuously increasing… It is the ideology of the Congress that has fought for the Independence of the country,” he added.

GPCC President Chavda said that due to the anti-people policy of the BJP government, the countrymen are facing immense difficulties. “The Congress is moving forward with a positive agenda. Many big leaders and activists, political and non-political leaders are continuously joining the Congress. We welcome all of you and assure you that your honour will be preserved. To save democracy and to protect the Constitution, we will all have to fight together against the divisive politics of the BJP,” Chavda stated at the event.

Chaudhary said there is no dictatorship and only democracy in the Congress. The Congress will become stronger with the arrival of leaders and activists of various parties in large numbers, he added.

In July, during his visit to Gujarat, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal declared that all association with the Congress had ended, stating that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc was conceived for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He said the AAP would go solo in the 2027 Gujarat Assembly election.