Surat: Former Congress councilor Dinesh Kachhadiya joins AAP

Surat: Dinesh Kachhadiya, former Congress party councilor who had contested the State assembly election and als contested the recently concluded Surat Municipal Corporation election as Congress candidate today announced his decision to join the Aam Admi Party (AAP), apparently as per an arrangement by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). While Patidar quota agitation is over, its political impact could be seen in recently concluded civic polls of Surat. PAAS, upset with Congress over ticket allocations, was in pact with AAP in Saurashtra-origin Patels populated pockets of Surat. This resulted into victory of 27 councillors of AAP. Kachhadiya had contested on Congress ticket, but as PAAS was with AAP, he lost the election against AAP candidate. PAAS was sympathetic to Kachhadiya and other Congress candidate Papan Togadiya, but worked against them as they were Congress candidates. Though AAP lost deposits in local polls across Gujarat, it could ensure victory on 27 seats of Surat Municipal Corporation due to fight between PAAS and Congress and subsequent pact between PAAS and AAP. DeshGujarat