Hardik Patel, former Congress leader, has joined the BJP.
The Patidar leader performed a puja in his Admedabad home on Thursday morning before formally joining the party.
Patel catapulted to the political centre stage in 2015, spearheading Gujarat's Patidar reservation agitation. While initially demanding OBC status for the community, the demand later transformed to reservation for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
Patel had joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and was appointed working present of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee in 2020.
He later accused Congress leaders of sidelining him when making important decisions and finally quit the party in 2022 resigning on May 19.
Patel's induction into BJP comes ahead of Assembly elections this year.
