Four Cong MLAs want to join Guj BJP

Ahmedabad, Aug 21 (UNI) With Gujarat Assembly elections round the corner, political activities seemed to be hotting up with both Congress and BJP making claims about switching over of rebel MLAs from one party to the other.

The Congress is likely to receive the first jolt as four of its MLAS have hinted on soon joining the BJP.

Congress rebel MLAs Shankar Bali, Manish Giletwala, Babubha Malik and Nimaben Acharya have recently expressed their desire to join the saffron party.

Meanwhile, Gujarat BJP General Secretary Vijay Roopani has confirmed to UNI that several Congress MLAs were in touch with their party and expressed willingness to join BJP.

''However, the final decision will be taken by the party's senior leaders at an appropriate time,'', Mr Roopani added.

Meanwhile, accepting the dissident activities in the Party, senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly Arjun Modhwadia said ''These MLAs were non-performing assets of the Party and were unlikely to get tickets for the next assembly election, thus, they may have decided to join BJP.

While Gujarat Congress President Bharat Solanki, who is presently in New Delhi and is likely to discuss the issue with Party High Command and other senior leaders, may get a nod to take disciplinary action against these dissidents and other MLAs indulging in anti-party activities, party sources said here.

Earlier, seven BJP MLAs, including some former state ministers, were suspended for anti-party activities. They are believed to be negotiating hard with the Congress to get an Assembly ticket to contest the coming polls.

UNI