Former BJP MLA Lalji Mer joins Congress in Gujarat

Former Gujarat BJP MLA Lalji Mer on Wednesday joined the opposition Congress. Mer, a Koli community leader, was inducted into Congress in the presence of the party's state unit chief Amit Chavda, state Congress in-charge Rajiv Satav and Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly Paresh Dhanani here.

Mer was a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Dhandhuka in Ahmedabad district between 2012 and 2017. The BJP did not give him the ticket again in 2017 polls. Mer had left the Congress and joined the BJP ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. He fought the Lok Sabha election on BJP ticket in 2009 but lost to Congress candidate Somabhai Patel, also a Koli leader.

Talking to the media Wednesday, Mer claimed that BJP and its government were anti-farmer. "This government works only for the rich. I am leaving BJP with a heavy heart. As an MLA, I made several representations to the government about the problems of farmers. But I only received assurances," he claimed. On Tuesday, four-time MLA and former Gujarat minister Sundersinh Chauhan had joined the Congress, alleging that the BJP leadership was ignoring him.

(With inputs from agencies.)