Vaghela's close supporter Vipul Chaudhary rejoins BJP

Palanpur, Gujarat, Sep 15 (UNI) A close-supporter of Union Textiles Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela and mass leader from North Gujarat, Vipul Chaudhary, today re-joined BJP, boosting the party prospects in the region where Chief Minister Narendra Modi is facing tough time from the Patidar community.

Mr Chaudhary, who left the BJP almost twelve years ago when Mr Vaghela was expelled from the party for revolting against then Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel announced his formal entry in the BJP here.

''I will work for strengthening the hands of the Chief Minister Narendra Modi and so also the BJP,'' he said.

Mr Chaudhary re-joined BJP in the presence of Mr Modi, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, State unit president Purshottam Rupala, and former Finance Minister Nitinbhai Patel.

''The prospects of BJP in the region, which has 31 assembly seats, will improve significantly,'' Mr Chaudhary told UNI after re-joining the BJP.

Speculations about Mr Chaudhary rejoining the party were rife since the past one month after he was reinstated as chairman of the Mehsana District Co-operative Milk Producers Union (MDCMPU) by the State Registrar of Co-operative Societies. The MDCMPU has around five lakhs milk producers cooperatives in the rural areas.

Welcoming the re-entry of Mr Chaudhary into the BJP, Mr Modi said it was a welcome home-coming. ''Vipulbhai has rejoined the BJP after twelve years of exile,'' Mr Modi said. ''Many others like him, will realize their mistake and return home,'' he added.

UNI