Ahmedabad, May 27: Gujarat OBC leader and Radhanpur MLA Alpesh Thakor has sparked speculations of joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress rebel, who resigned from the grand old party last month, met Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Monday. Thakor Quits Congress Ahead of First Phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

Thakor, a first-time legislator, had joined the Congress in 2017 ahead of the assembly elections. Following the polls, however, he turned disenchanted after members of his Thakor Sena were reportedly sidelined by the state Congress.

"Thakor Sena helped Congress win almost 43 seats during the 2017 Assembly polls. But our youth were sidelined and even humiliated after the elections got over. I had repeatedly asked the party leaders to give suitable posts to our youth in their organisation," he said after quitting the party.

Thakor was among the three youth leaders roped in by the Congress ahead of the legislative polls in Gujarat. The other two being Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani and Patidar leader Hardik Patel.

While Patel had recently joined the Congress, Mevani continues to remain an independent legislators who is supporting the Congress on selected issues.

Among the trio, Thakur was the only one to officially join the Congress and contest the assembly polls on the party's ticket.

For now, he continues to remain the Radhanpur legislator. If Thakor jump ships to the BJP, the Congress would ask the Assembly Speaker to expel his membership from the House.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 27, 2019 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).