MJP merges with Keshubhai's Gujarat Parivartan Party

Maha-Gujarat Janta party president Gordhan Zadafia on Wednesday announced merger of his outfit with Keshubhai Patel's newly-formed Gujarat Parivartan Party in Ahmedabad.

The announcement was made at a joint press conference held by Keshubhai and Zadafia.

"I and all the office bearers have today resigned from the primary membership of MJP and joined Gujarat Parivartan Party. About 2.5 lakh workers of my party will also join it," Zadafia said.

Keshubhai, a senior BJP leader and former chief minister of Gujarat, floated GPP last week after running a campaign against Chief Minister Narendra Modi for some time.

Zadafia, who was a minister in Modi's government, quit BJP in 2007.

As Zadafia's outfit has a strong cadre, the merger is expected to help GPP, which has plans to contest the assembly elections, due in December.

Keshubhai, on this occasion, announced a string of promises.

"BJP has failed to fulfill tall promises made in 2007 elections, while Congress, which came to power in the centre (afresh) in 2009, has also failed in checking the price rise, and over a host of other issues," he said.

GPP would reduce the fares of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation buses by 20 per cent, cut the VAT on petrol and diesel, would give subsidy of Rs 100 per PNG gas cylinder, and provide cheap electricity, Patel said.