“After all the hard work and devotion towards the AAP, I have been gifted with suspension. I did not expect this. I have not yet decided to join any political party, but I will work hard for the development of my ward. Two and half years are still left for my tenure. Till that time, I will remain an independent councillor,” Moradiya told The Indian Express.

On the speculation of a BJP offer for him, he said: “In the last few days, the BJP sent my relatives and friends with a proposal to create pressure to join the party. If a relative comes to our home, we cannot shut our doors. I listened to them as it is my duty. I have worked hard for the party and brought development works of over Rs 960 crores to my ward. The voters are happy.”

Of the total 27 councillors initially elected in the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) from the AAP in 2021, the party now has 14 left.

Last week, two of its councillors – Kanu Godiya from SMC Ward number 3 and Alpesh Patel from Ward number 2 – were suspended over alleged anti-party activities. They both joined the BJP the same day in the presence of Surat city chief Niranjan Janjmera. They claimed they were harassed, and nobody lent them a patient ear, which pushed them to join the BJP.

Moradiya, councillor from Ward number 2, received a letter of suspension on Sunday. “For the last few months, Moradiya was involved in activities that were against the AAP. Even during the last assembly elections, he was not active during campaigning. We came to know he was also involved in trying to woo other councillors to join the BJP. There was clear-cut evidence against him,” said AAP spokesperson Rakesh Hirpara.

He further added: “BJP has got a majority of councillors in SMC and they have found that they have a major competitor in the upcoming elections. In the last assembly election, five MLAs were elected and our party got over 40 lakh votes. The AAP has made agricultural land ready for cultivation and now the time has come to sow seeds. The BJP wants to show they can go to any extent to purchase the elected leaders.”

In 2021, the AAP contested the civic body election in Surat for the first time. So far, 12 councillors have switched to the BJP. In the last week, eight councillors have jumped ship, including those suspended.

Commenting on the developments, Moradiya further said: “I have been loyal to the AAP. Since we were elected as municipal councillors, BJP had been constantly using all tactics to lure us (AAP councillors). So far, we have not come under any pressure. Why will we now join the rival party? Our party higher-ups should think about it. The elected councillors were unhappy with the top leaders.”

“Our councillors worked hard since February 2021. In the last year’s assembly election, not a single MLA got elected from Surat. The party should think about it. Councillors who were assured tickets were told to work in different assembly constituencies. They worked hard and finally, the Delhi team came up with changes. Newcomers were brought and given tickets. The morale of those councillors who worked for six to eight months went down. A similar thing happened in the wards,”
he added.