Gujarat polls: Former BJP minister Jay Narayan Vyas joins Congress

Former BJP minister Jay Narayan Vyas on Monday joined the Congress in Ahmedabad in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

75-year-old Vyas joined the Congress along with his son Sameer Vyas, three weeks after the quit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party citing personal reasons.

Vyas was a minister handling Health & Family welfare portfolio from 2007 to 2012 in the BJP government in Gujarat when Narendra Modi was the chief minister.


Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot also welcomed Vyas into the party.

Vyaas resigned from the BJP on November 5. At the time of his resignation, Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil said he may have quit as he had attained the age of 75 and was not expecting to be nominated as a candidate.

Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly are scheduled on December 1 and 5