Gujarat Congress MLA Jawahar Chavda resigns; joins BJP

Ahmedabad: Senior Congress leader Jawahar Chavda joined BJP in Gandhinagar, soon after he resigned from the Congress Gujarat Legislative Assembly early on Friday.

A development that comes just days ahead of the March 12 Congress Working Committee meeting in the state.

Chavda, a four-time MLA, represented Manavadar seat in Junagadh district and is considered to be an influential OBC leader from the Ahir community.

Confirming the development, Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi said, "Chavda has resigned as MLA from Manavadar seat. He came to my residence and handed over his resignation letter. I have accepted his resignation. He has not cited any particular reason. Chavda ceases to be an MLA from today."

Chavda, who won from Manavadar in 1990, 2007, 2012 and 2017, is the third Congress MLA to have resigned from the House in past few months.

In July last year, senior Congress MLA Kunvarji Bavalia had resigned as the legislator and was then inducted in the BJP government as a cabinet minister.

Last month, the first-time MLA from Unjha seat of Mehsana, Asha Patel, had resigned from the House and party and joined the ruling BJP.