Ahmedabad: Former Gujarat minister Jai Narayan Vyas, who resigned from the BJP, joined the Congress on Monday. The 75-year-old former BJP leader was inducted into the party under the leadership of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gollot was also present on the occasion.
Along with Vyas, his son Sameer Vyas also joined the Congress. Vyas was part of the BJP for more than 30 years. Vyas was a member of the cabinet where Narendra Modi and Keshubai Patel were prime ministers. He was the Minister for Health and Family Welfare in 2007-2012. He quit the BJP on November 5. After resigning, he had said that he was thinking about the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party and would contest the upcoming elections.
In 1998 and 2007, Vyas represented the Legislative Assembly from Sidpur in Patan district. He failed here in 2002, 2012 and 2017. Congress leader Balwantsinh Rajput, who defeated Vyas here in 2002 and 2012, is now in the BJP. Vyas is a civil engineer who graduated from IIT Bombay. Has expertise in administration, economics and finance. Vyas was also the Chairman of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited.
Meanwhile, after being denied seats in the upcoming elections, many BJP leaders have defected from the party or filed as independent members. Elections to the 82-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5.
English Summary: Former Gujarat minister Jay Narayan Vyas joins Congress Days after leaving BJP
