Gandhinagar/Ahmedabad: District Panchayat member and Congress leader from northern Gujarat district Banaskantha joined the BJP today along with district general secretary of party Haresh Joshi. Their induction took place at the state BJP headquarters in Gandhinagar today in presence of party leader KC Patel, Shambhuprasad Tundiya among others.

In another development, former Mayor of Rajkot Ashok Dangar rejoined Congress party. Dangar had joined BJP in November 2012 claiming that he was feeling neglected by Congress party for last some time. He has rejoined Congress party today claiming same – neglect by BJP.

Also joining Congress party today was former parliamentary secretary in government Shamji Chauhan who is from Chotila. Chauhan had resigned from BJP just ahead of the general elections of Gujarat assembly last year for denial of nomination to contest from Chotila seat. In 2010, Shamji had briefly joined Shiv Sena to contest as independent from Chotila seat. He had lost the election. Chotila seat is at present with Congress.

Shamjibhai and Dangar joined Congress at state Congress headquarters in Ahmedabad in presence of state party chief Amit Chavda, state party in-charge Rajiv Satav among others.