Gandhinagar: In a significant political shift ahead of the upcoming Gujarat local body elections, Raju Karpada, the former Chief of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Kisan Wing, officially joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today. The induction ceremony took place at the BJP state headquarters, ‘Shri Kamalam,’ where Karpada was welcomed by BJP General Secretary Aniruddh Dave and other senior leaders.

Karpada was formally inducted into the party with the traditional saffron scarf (khes) presented by Aniruddh Dave in the presence of former minister Gordhan Zadafia, state spokesperson Dr. Anil Patel, and Dr. Bharat Boghra. Along with Karpada, several other farmer leaders and supporters from the Saurashtra region also joined the BJP.

Addressing the media, Karpada explained that his decision was driven by a desire to effectively resolve farmers’ issues. He stated that while he had spent years protesting and leading agitations, he realized that continuous opposition and “slogan-shouting” do not bring permanent solutions to farmers’ grievances.

“If we want to bring prosperity to farmers and ensure irrigation water reaches every field, it is better to work with the ruling party,” Karpada said. He also lauded the BJP government’s ₹10,000 crore relief package for farmers and the abolition of the ‘Karda’ system as decisive factors behind his move.

Karpada’s defection comes at a critical time as political parties finalize candidate lists for the local body polls. When asked about his future aspirations, Karpada said he would act as a “loyal soldier” of the party. While there is speculation that he may contest from Chotila or take on a major role in the district and taluka panchayat elections, Karpada stated that any decision regarding tickets or responsibilities rests entirely with the BJP leadership. DeshGujarat