Former Congress leader Hardik Patel, who quit the party on 18 May, on Thursday, 2 June, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Patel was inducted into the BJP in Gandhinagar, in the presence of Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil.
Earlier on Thursday, the Patidar leader had taken to Twitter to announce his joining of the BJP, saying that he would start a new chapter and work for the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"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 noble work of service to the nation under the leadership of the successful Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Bhai Modi," Patel tweeted in Hindi.
After he resigned from the Congress last month, speculations were rife that Patel would be joining either the BJP or the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections this year.
Patel's Resignation From Congress
The Patidar leader quit the Congress on 18 May, days after claiming to be sidelined within the party and being excluded from important decisions.
In his resignation letter, Patel had said, "Today, I have mustered the courage to resign from all posts as well as the primary membership of the party. I believe that all my supporters and the people of Gujarat will stand by my decision. I also believe that following this decision, I will be able to work positively for Gujarat."
"Despite several attempts to steer the Congress in the right direction, the party has constantly been working against the interests of my country and our society. Hence, I wish to draw your attention to some very important subjects," he had written in the letter.
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