In the run up to the assembly polls in Gujarat, a sitting Congress MLA Lalsinh Vadodia representing Umreth assembly segment in central Gujarat, has switched over to the saffron party after the Congress has given away his seat to NCP as part of both parties seat sharing pact.
Vadodia is a powerful leader in Anand district. He had joined Congress on the eve of the state assembly polls in 2007.

He was fielded from Umreth where he got elected defeating the BJP nominee.

The reason for shift to BJP: Vadodia's seat has been given to the NCP according to the sharing pact between Congress and NCP.

Jayant Patel, NCP president of Gujarat whose seat in Sarsa has been merged with Umreth, will be contesting assembly polls from Umreth.

Vadodia is the third MLA to switch over from one party to another. Previously, BJP MLA Bhavsinh Rathod, a very influential leader of Thakor community in Patan district, north Gujarat, joined the opposition party, which is likely to field him from Radhanpur assembly segment.

Besides, NCP MLA Tusharsinh Maharaul also joined the ruling party and will be co testing polls on Devgadh Baria segment in Dahod district of Central Gujarat.