Vadodara: Congress party’s Rajya Sabha member and former union minister Naran Rathwa today joined ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) in Gujarat. Naran Rathwa along with his son Sangram Rathwa reached BJP headquarters Shri Kamalam today morning and held meeting with Central Gujarat region in-charge of BJP, Gordhan Zadafiya, ahead of their formal joining. They then joined BJP with their supporters in the presence of Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil who offered them saffron cap and scarf.

Rathwa’s six years term as Rajya Sabha member is ending in early April this year. Therefore he is current Rajya Sabha MP as on today. Rathwa’s son Sangram Rathwa, President of Chhota Udepur municipality, also joined BJP along with his father. Both father-son earlier in the morning today resigned from primary membership of Congress party.

This development is taking place days before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to tribal belt of Gujarat with his Nyay Yatra soon.

Naran Rathwa had been elected to Lok Sabha for five times. He is the leading tribal face of Congress party. Rathwa won Lok Sabha elections on tribals dominated Chhota Udepur seat in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2004. Rathwa couldn’t win Chhota Udepur Lok Sabha seat in subsequent polls. He was sent to Rajya Sabha as a member in 2018.

Former Kwant taluka panchayat chief Pintu Rathwa is also going to join BJP. DeshGujarat