Nearly two weeks after resigning from the Congress, former Gujarat minister Naresh Raval and former Rajya Sabha member Raju Parmar joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Wednesday, months ahead of the state Assembly polls.
Both the leaders were associated with the Congress for decades.
State BJP chief C R Paatil welcomed them into the party by offering them saffron scarves and caps. A large number of their supporters also joined the ruling party.
Mr Parmar was Congress's Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat for three terms - between 1988 and 2006. A prominent leader from the Dalit community, he had also served as a member of the National Committee for SC/ST.
Mr Raval, a three-term MLA representing Vijapur Assembly seat in Mehsana, had served as the minister of state for home and industry minister in the then Congress government in Gujarat. He had won the Assembly elections in 1985, 1990 and 1998.
The Assembly elections are due by the end of this year.
"No Chief Minister Face, No Agenda": Arvind Kejriwal Counters BJP Attack BJP MLA Harish Shakya Among 16 Others Accused Of Gangrape In UP Former AAP MLA Sukhbir Singh Dalal Joins BJP Ahead Of Delhi Assembly Polls Allu Arjun Summoned By Hyderabad Police For Questioning In Stampede Case Delta Airline Passenger Gets Frustrated After His First-Class Seat Was Given To Service Dog Trump Says US Ownership Of Greenland Absolutely Necessary, Nation Responds Two Arrested For Lynching Man Over Stealing Money In Mizoram: Cops Manipur's Naga Groups Allege Kuki Volunteers Assaulted Students' Body Members Congress Leader Files Complaint Against Allu Arjun Over Scene In 'Pushpa 2' Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.