Ahmedabad, April 9 Former Gujarat-based Indian Police Service officer M L Ninama and ex-AAP leader Raju Karpada joined the ruling BJP on Thursday, ahead of the upcoming local body elections in the state.
Ninama, who recently took voluntary retirement three months before his scheduled retirement, joined the BJP in Shamlaji in the Aravalli district. He was welcomed into the party by Minister of State P C Baranda, who handles the Tribal Development, Food and Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs portfolios.
The 59-year-old former IPS officer from the Scheduled Tribe community hails from the Aravalli district in north Gujarat. Originally a State Police Service officer, he was promoted to the Indian Police Service and last served as Inspector General of Police in the Traffic Branch in Gandhinagar. He was due to retire on June 30.
Ninama confirmed to the media on Wednesday that he took VRS and the government had accepted his resignation.
Meanwhile, Raju Karpada, former president of the Gujarat farmer cell of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), joined the BJP in Gandhinagar. Karpada had resigned from all positions in AAP on February 11.
Addressing a gathering, Karpada said, “If I truly want to work for the welfare of farmers, I need to be with the ruling party. I want government schemes and benefits to reach every farm, and for that, I will work with the Bharatiya Janata Party.”
Elections to local bodies, including 15 municipal corporations, across Gujarat will be held on April 26. Votes will be counted on April 28.
