‘Small Soldier Under PM Modi’s Leadership’ Hardik Patel Makes Entry Into BJP

"I am going to start a new chapter from today. I will work for the country under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi," Hardik Patel tweeted.

New Delhi: Hardik Patel, the Gujarat Patidar leader, who recently quit Congress joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday. Patel’s move to join the saffron party comes ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections due later this year. The BJP has been in power in the state for over two decades. He said that he is about to “start a new chapter” and will work as a “small soldier” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making his switch to the BJP official.

Earlier today, before joining the ruling party, Patel took to his Twitter account to say that he is beginning a new chapter from today. “I am going to start a new chapter from today. I will work for the country under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi,” he tweeted.

राष्ट्रहित, प्रदेशहित, जनहित एवं समाज हित की भावनाओं के साथ आज से नए अध्याय का प्रारंभ करने जा रहा हूँ। भारत के यशस्वी प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र भाई मोदी जी के नेतृत्व में चल रहे राष्ट्र सेवा के भगीरथ कार्य में छोटा सा सिपाही बनकर काम करूँगा।

— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) June 2, 2022

The Patidar leader also performed a ‘pooja’ at his Ahmedabad residence today morning ahead of formally joining the party.

Gujarat | Hardik Patel performs 'pooja' at his residence in Ahmedabad.

He will be joining Bharatiya Janata Party today. pic.twitter.com/AqMboWjs7e

— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2022

On May 19, Patel resigned from Congress and stated that Gujarat Congress leader were least bothered to address real issues of the state but were more focussed on ensuring that the leaders who come from Delhi to Gujarat get “Chicken sandwich” on time. He had also alleged that Gujarat Congress leaders tried to disrupt his political effort “sitting in the AC chambers”.

Patel also hit out at the party leadership for the derogatory and hateful remarks by the party leaders against “Hindus and Lord Ram”.

Gujarat | Posters welcoming Hardik Patel to BJP were put outside the party office in Gandhinagar.

He had recently quit Congress and will join BJP today. pic.twitter.com/HiTzMeaklv

— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2022

Patel rose to prominence as the leader of the Patidar movement of 2015 and a fierce critic of the BJP. He joined the Congress three years ago.