Gandhinagar, April 9
Raju Karpada, a young farmer leader from Gujarat, who recently resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party, on Thursday, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party along with hundreds of supporters at the party's state headquarters in Gandhinagar.
He was inducted into the party in the presence of senior BJP leaders, including State General Secretary Aniruddh Dave, former State Vice-President Gordhan Zadafia, State Vice-President Rasik Prajapati, and former State Minister Jaysinh Chauhan, among others, who welcomed Karpada and his supporters by draping the party's saffron scarf.
Karpada's entry comes ahead of the upcoming local self-government elections and at a time when the AAP's organisation in the state is facing setbacks.
Along with Karpada, several of his associates -- Amrut Makwana, Nitin Patel, K.D. Zala, Rajendra Singh Rathod and Dhirubhai Melaliya -- also joined the BJP.
Speaking after joining the BJP, Karpada said, "Since 2017-18, I started raising the voice of farmers by running a farmer organisation. In 2021, I joined a particular party (AAP) so that the voice of farmers could be strengthened. Whenever natural calamities occurred, I tried to be a voice for farmers."
He added, "I have realised that merely protesting against the government does not benefit farmers; it only polishes the face of leaders. To improve the condition of farmers, support of power and government is necessary. When I was in jail, the government provided a relief package, which truly benefitted farmers. Therefore, I have joined the BJP for the welfare of farmers."
Explaining his decision further, Karpada said "he had initially joined the AAP with the aim of working for farmers' prosperity, but later felt that a more effective resolution of their persistent issues required being aligned with the ruling dispensation".
He also clarified his electoral stance, saying, "I will not ask for a ticket in the local self-government elections. The party will decide the ticket, and whether I contest elections or not will also be decided by the party."
Karpada, who hails from the Chotila area of Surendranagar district, rose to prominence during 2017-18 through aggressive agitations over cotton and groundnut prices and crop insurance issues.
He joined the AAP in 2021 and later contested the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections from the Chotila seat on the party's ticket.
He had also been considered a strong candidate from the Gadhada Assembly seat, where he gave a tough contest to both the BJP and Congress.
Known as a grassroots and combative leader, Karpada built a following among young voters and farmers, particularly in the Saurashtra region, through protests on insurance issues and other pending agricultural concerns.
He has been jailed multiple times during such agitations, including in connection with a violent clash between farmers and police in Hadadad village of Botad district last year, in which he was arrested and is currently out on bail.
He resigned from the AAP weeks before, citing dissatisfaction with the party's internal functioning and alleging neglect of party workers.
His exit followed differences within the AAP, after which he distanced himself from its organisational activities.
- IANS
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