Jignesh Mevani says Congress will defeat BJP in 2022 Gujarat polls
Ahmedabad, Oct 7: Independent Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani, who has extended his support to the Congress, on Wednesday expressed confidence that the opposition party will defeat the ruling BJP in the 2022 assembly elections.
Mevani said the Congress played a key role in Indian independence movement and he has decided to join the Sonia Gandhi-led party as he thinks it can end the "misrule" of the BJP.
I would like to thank Congress workers and leaders for welcoming me to the party headquarters here in Ahmedabad, Mevani told reporters.
The legislator from the Vadgam assembly constituency has extended his support to the Congress, but has not taken formal membership of the party so far due to technical reasons (he will lose his MLA status).
He came to the Congress headquarters here on Wednesday for the first time after deciding to join the party.
I have decided to join the Congress as I believe it is the only party that will be able to end the misrule of BJP in the state and the country. The Congress ended the British Rule and in the same way it will end the BJP dominance, Mevani said.
The BJP has been ruling Gujarat for the last 25-27 years. In the last elections (in 2017), the Congress fell short by 10 to 12 seats from gaining a majority. However, I am convinced that this time (in 2022 elections), the party will win in Gujarat, he said. The BJP has "failed" on every front in the state, the MLA said.
I am not able to join the Congress party for technical reasons as I am an independent MLA. But I will soon join the party. I had discussion on this issue with state Congress president Amit Chavda and also Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Mevani said.
As per sources close to the MLA, he will fight the next assembly elections under the banner of the Congress and join the party just before the polls.
Mevani had last month attended a function in Delhi where former JNU Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was inducted into the Congress.
In 2017, Mevani was elected from Vadgam, where the Congress did not put up any candidate against him.
I thank the workers of Gujarat Congress, NSUI, Youth Congress, Mahila Morcha and RDAM for the electrifying atmosphere to welcome me in Ahmedabad! I thank all the senior leaders of the party for their blessings.
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) October 6, 2021
Determined to defeat BJP in 2022.!
Ladengey, Jitenge! pic.twitter.com/k5gIdqDrOh
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
