Gujarat autorickshaw driver who invited Arvind Kejriwal to dinner now says he is BJP supporter

The auto driver in Gujarat who famously invited Arvind Kejriwal to dinner a few weeks ago and created a security scramble in the process has now said he is a staunch supporter of the BJP and a fan of PM Narendra Modi.

The autorickshaw driver Vikram Dantani was spotted on Friday evening wearing a saffron cap and scarf at a public rally held at the Thaltej area in Ahmedabad by PM Narendra Modi, PTI reported.

"I came here (for the rally) because I am a huge fan of Modiji. I have been with the BJP since the beginning and always gave my vote to the BJP in the past. I am not saying this under any pressure," Dantani told reporters at the venue.


When asked why he then invited Delhi CM Kejriwal to his home, Vikram Dantani said he was asked to do so by leaders of an autorickshaw union.

As soon as I offered to host him for a meal at my home, Kejriwal accepted it. I did not know it would become such a big issue. Otherwise, I am not at all associated with the party (AAP). I am not in touch with any AAP leader after that episode," he was reported as saying.

Dantani shot into media limelight on September 13 when at an Aam Aadmi Party function in poll-bound Gujarat he invited the Delhi CM for dinner at his place.

Kejriwal immediately accepted the offer and asked Dantani to pick him up in auto rickshaw from his hotel around 7.30 pm.

Here is a video of the exchange from that day,
Kejriwal, along with a couple of AAP local leaders, travelled in Dantani's autorickshaw, but police raised security concerns. Finally, they did have their way and Kejriwal reached Dantani's home in the Ghatlodia area where they had dinner.