Hardik Patel joins BJP months ahead of Gujarat elections

Patel officially joined the party in the afternoon at Srikakulam, Koba, near the party's state headquarters, capital Gandhinagar.

Months before the assembly polls in the state, he joined the saffron party in the presence of the party's Gujarat unit chief CR Patil, former deputy CM Nitin Patel.

Patel, who was once a staunch opponent of BJP, Thursday recited odes in the pride of the party and Prime Minister Modi. He also made a strong attack on the Congress party.

Before joining BJP, he also did a road show from Koba to Srikalam.

Later talking to reporters, he praised Shri Modi for providing 10 percent reservation for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). He said that he would help the families of the youths who were martyred in the Patidar reservation movement.

Earlier, in his tweet message, Patel said, "With the feelings of national interest, state interest, public interest and social interest, I am going to start a new chapter from today. I will work as a small soldier in the work of serving the nation under the leadership of the successful Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Bhai Modi ji."

On the other hand, BJP, which considered Patel as a staunch opponent in the past, changed its heart and described him as a young patriotic leader in its poster.

It is worth noting that on the instructions of the Gujarat government, a case of sedition was filed against him in the past. Before joining the BJP, Patel had organised special pujas at his home and at the SGVP temple.

On May 18, he resigned from the primary membership of the party in a scathing attack on the top and state leadership of the Congress.

It is worth noting that 28-year-old Patel, who came into the limelight after the 2015 Patidar reservation movement, duly joined the Congress in Mar 2019 before the last Lok Sabha elections and in Jul 2020, he was made the working president of the main opposition party of the state.