After being sacked by AAP, functionary returns to Congress in Gujarat, regrets joining Arvind Kejriwal-led party

AHMEDABAD: Vashram Sagathiya, the former vice president of the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Gujarat unit, has returned to the Congress a day after being expelled from AAP for alleged anti-party activities. Alongside 50 other AAP workers and leaders, Sagathiya joined the Congress in the presence of the party's state president, Shaktisinh Gohil, at its state headquarters.
Sagathiya, a prominent Dalit leader from Rajkot, stated that by rejoining the Congress, he feels like he has returned to his "home" and acknowledged that joining AAP and straying onto the "wrong path" was a mistake.
Prior to joining AAP before the December Assembly elections last year, Sagathiya had served the Congress for over three decades. During his time with Congress, he held the position of Leader of Opposition in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, which was ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In the previous Assembly election, Sagathiya ran as an AAP candidate for the Rajkot Rural Assembly seat, reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), but was defeated by the BJP's Bhanuben Babariya.
AAP expelled Sagathiya from his positions as vice president of its Gujarat unit and party member on Tuesday, accusing him of working against the party's interests. Interestingly, this decision came shortly after Sagathiya participated in a foot-march organized by the state Congress. Following his return to the Congress, Sagathiya expressed regret over joining the Kejriwal-led party, highlighting his mistake in doing so.
"I went to AAP in order to defeat BJP because the ruling party is destroying our Constitution. However, it was a mistake to join AAP. I later on realised that I had chosen the wrong path. That is why I decided to return to Congress, which is like my home. I firmly believe that only Congress can save our democracy," Sagathiya said.
On the occasion, Gohil said people like Sagathiya are always welcome in the party if they remain committed to the party's ideology.
"Congress is a mass-based party and we will welcome everyone who remains committed to the party's ideology. We do not believe in use-and-throw policy. Many Congress leaders who joined the BJP were insulted. But if you come to Congress, your dignity will be maintained," Gohil said.
(With inputs from PTI)