Morbi district panchayat chief, nagarpalika president join BJP

Morbi: In a major setback to opposition Congress party ahead of 8-seat bypolls, Morbi district panchayat president and Congress leader Kishor Chikhaliya has today joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Morbi is among 8 assembly seats that are going to witness by-elections on November 3.

Chikhaliya was sulking after denied ticket for Morbi by-poll by Congress. Chikhaliya speaking to media persons alleged that Congress leaders Hardik Patel and MLA Lalit Kagathara had sold party tickets in year 2017 assembly general elections, and both were into financial dealings. Chihaliya said he had made complains at State level, but party leadership didn’t take any action against them. Kagathara refuted these allegations and said he Chikhaliya was making money for non-agriculture approvals as district panchayat president. Kagathara also said that Chikhaliya had insulted party mandate in the past and therefore denial of ticket to him was obvious.

In another move, Morbi municipality president Ketan Vilpara has also joined BJP. Earlier this year, then sitting Congress MLA Brijesh Merja had resigned from the assembly and also from Congress party to join BJP. The seat therefore went vacant. DeshGujarat