Hardik, Alpesh lead list of Cong turncoats seeking BJP tickets

Hardik Patel (29), who shot to fame by spearheading the Patidar reservation stir and later became working president of Gujarat Congress, is likely to debut in electoral politics by contesting the Viramgam seat on a BJP ticket.

- Kapil Dave

Gandhinagar: His contemporary Alpesh Thakor, who had spearheaded a parallel agitation to protect the reservation share of his caste, too, will contest on a BJP ticket after a brief stint with Congress.

The list of Congress turncoats who might contest on the BJP symbol is getting longer. Over 35 Congress members who switched sides in the run-up to the 2017 poll and even later are pressing for tickets. Some put the tally at 40. BJP is now home to several ex-Congress members, some of whom have won polls on the lotus symbol and are sitting MLAs.