Long stint in power in Gujarat has made BJP 'corrupt', its days in office are numbered: Kejriwal

Modasa, Gujarat: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat has become "corrupt" and developed ego after being in power for a long time in the state, claimed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday.

The former Delhi chief minister alleged the opposition Congress and the ruling BJP are "together" in Gujarat and they have been running a coalition government in the state for the last many years.

"The BJP is most corrupt. It is taking away the money of cattle rearers by not offering them full price of their milk," he said while addressing a gathering of dairy farmers at Modasa town in Aravalli district of Gujarat.

"For the milk that you go to sell in dairy cooperatives, they pay you as per kilogram fat. But I have learnt that if your milk has 7.5 per kg fat, they pay you only for 7 per kg fat and pocket thousands of rupees," the AAP leader maintained.

The former CM was speaking about dairy farmers who sell milk to Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets its products under brand name Amul.

Dairy cooperatives should actually be controlled by farmers, but BJP leaders have taken over these bodies in Gujarat, the bureaucrat-turned-politician alleged.

"Corrupt BJP leaders who control these dairy cooperatives are taking your money. Dairy farmers had to launch an agitation after a meagre bonus was announced this year (by Sabar dairy - a GCMMF constituent). However, when they learnt Kejriwal is coming here, they hiked the bonus," he claimed.

He noted the Congress ruled Gujarat for several years earlier, but had to go out of power after they tried to crush farmers and police fired on them when they launched an agitation.

"In the same way, the BJP is now trying to crush farmers in Gujarat. Their days (in power) are numbered. They have developed ego after ruling the state for nearly 30 years," the AAP convenor opined.

The former Delhi chief minister alleged the Congress, a former AAP ally, is hand in glove with the BJP in Gujarat.

"The Congress and the BJP are running a coalition government in the state," he alleged.

Kejriwal told the gathering that a "non-corrupt" AAP is the only option for people who are yearning for a change in Gujarat, where assembly polls are due in late 2027.

At the programme, Kejriwal was accompanied by party colleague and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and state AAP leaders.