Five newly-elected MLAs take oath in Gujarat

Gandhinagar: After winning as BJP candidates, four former Congress legislators along with an independent candidate, who won in the recent bypolls in Gujarat, took oath of office on Tuesday in Gandhinagar.

In the assembly elections held in December 2022, the BJP retained power by winning a record 156 out of 182 seats, and now, with five more MLAs in its fold, the party's strength has risen to 161.

The Congress turncoat list includes former Gujarat Pradesh Congress president Arjun Modhvadia from Porbandar, CJ Chavda from Vijapur, Arvind Ladani from Manavadar, and Chirag Patel from Khambhat. Dharmendrasinh Vaghela was also sworn in is an independent candidate from Vaghodia.


Their resignations had come in the backdrop of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as the BJP went on inducting Congress leaders within the party fold as a part of its election strategy.

Much to the chagrin of the BJP workers, all of the inductees were fielded from their respective seats which went to polls on May 7 along with the third phase of Lok Sabha elections to return successfully to the assembly.

Sources indicate that heavyweights like Modhvadia and CJ Chavda may soon be included in the state cabinet as the chief minister expands the cabinet. Modhvadia and Chavda secured major victories with winning margins of 1.16 lakh and 56,000 votes, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat BJP unit is also poised for a structural overhaul after state party president CR Patil was inducted into the Union Cabinet.