Gandhinagar:

Congress MLA from Amreli Paresh Dhanani today formally took charge of the office of leader of opposition of Gujarat Assembly here amid presence of state president Bharatsinh Solanki, Rajyasabha MP Madhusudan Mistry and party MLA’s including senior Koli leader Kuwarji Babariya whose supporters had expressed annoyance at Dhanani’s selection by Rahul Gandhi on January 6.

Dhanani performed puja in his office before taking charge as the leader of opposition which has a status equivalent to a cabinet rank minister.

Later talking to newsmen he reiterated that he would lead the party in the house to effectively raise the issues pertaining to common people. ‘Congress want to end the rule of fear and hunger and corruption from Gujarat the way it has ousted Britishers from India during struggle for freedom. The next government would certainly be ours,’ he said.

Dhanani, a Patidar leader, as LoP will avail govt car, bungalow, cabinet minister equivalent status and perks.
He said that a workshop to train 41 first-time elected MLAs of the total 77 party MLAs will be organized soon.

Notably, Dhanani has taken charge as LoP a day before the swearing in of all the newly elected MLAs at the Sabarmati hall in Swarnim Sankul (New Secretariat) here.

Former Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhwadia and former LoP Shakisinh Gohil were also present on the occasion.

DeshGujarat