Rajkot:
Former Congress leader Narhari Amin, who recently crossed over to BJP only days before the Gujarat Assembly elections, has alleged that senior leaders of the faction-ridden Opposition subverted ticket distribution process for elections, which prompted party cadres to defect.
"Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Arjun Modhvadiya, Opposition leader Shaktisinh Gohil and Congress' election campaign committee chairman Shankarsinh Vaghela are competing each other to become the chief minister and flouted party norms in ticket allocation," Mr Amin alleged.
The former deputy chief minister backed his decision to quit Congress by saying, "It is improper that senior leaders of Congress like me were kept in the dark in ticket allocation. I felt insulted and decided to join BJP."
Mr Amin is in Rajkot to participate in election campaign on behalf of the ruling BJP.
Mr Amin denied any reports that Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the president of Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), has promised him any post in the organisation. He said he joined BJP "without any expectation".
Seeking to punch holes in Congress' claims, Mr Amin said, "Congress' promises of giving laptops to students and free treatment to patients suffering from heart and kidney ailments, are impracticable and a poll gimmick".
Elections will be held in Gujarat in two phases on December 13 and 17.
Mr Amin's entry into the BJP is expected to boost its prospects in the Saurashtra region where the renegade saffron party leader and former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel's newly launched Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) is expected to put up a stiff challenge to Mr Modi.