Udaipur, February 14 : The Congress has faced a significant setback in Gogunda Assembly constituency of Udaipur district ahead of the Panchayati Raj elections, as a Panchayat Samiti Pradhan, five sarpanches and more than 100 party workers joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The political development took place at Sayra Panchayat Samiti on Saturday, when outgoing Pradhan and Congress leader Sawaram Gameti, along with five sitting sarpanches, resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP. The collective induction has intensified political activity in the region, with observers saying that electoral equations may shift ahead of the upcoming polls.
Membership Administered by BJP Leaders
BJP Rural District President Pushkar Teli and Gogunda MLA Pratap Lal Gameti welcomed the leaders and workers into the party by presenting them with the BJP scarf. The development in Sayra is being seen as a major political move by District President Pushkar Teli in his home region just before the elections.
Prominent Leaders Who Switched Sides
Among those who joined the BJP are outgoing Sayra Pradhan Sawaram Gameti; Rodaram Gameti, Sarpanch of Bhanpura; Prakash Gameti, Sarpanch of Samal; Phoolaram Gameti, Sarpanch of Singhada; and Valaram Gameti, Sarpanch of Gayphal.
Former Sarpanch of Kadech, Hankaram Gameti, along with around 101 active workers, also took BJP membership together.
BJP Leaders’ Statements
On the occasion, BJP District President Pushkar Teli said that Congress workers were unhappy with what he termed the party leadership’s anti-national thinking and insensitivity towards the Army and farmers. He claimed that more leaders with nationalist views are expected to join the BJP in the coming days.
MLA Pratap Lal Gameti said that the inclusion of these leaders would further strengthen the BJP in the region.
The development in the Sayra area has created political ripples within the Congress camp. Gogunda Pradhan Sundar Devi, Deputy Pradhan Laxman Singh Jhala, Nahar Singh Devra and Karan Joshi, along with several senior BJP functionaries, were present during the programme.
Political observers believe that such a large-scale defection ahead of the Panchayat elections could significantly alter the local electoral dynamics.