Gandhinagar: Ahead of the local body polls that are to be held later this month, former IPS officer M L Ninama and former Aam Aadmi Party leader Raju Karpada joined the BJP on Thursday.Ninama, who recently opted for voluntary retirement three months before his scheduled superannuation, joined the BJP at Shamlaji in Aravalli district. He was welcomed into the party by P C Baranda, MoS for tribal development, food and civil supplies, and consumer affairs. Originally a state police service officer, Ninama was promoted as an IPS officer and last served as IGP, traffic branch, in Gandhinagar.Raju Karpada, former president of the Gujarat farmer cell of the state unit of AAP, joined the BJP at an event in Gandhinagar. Karpada resigned from all positions in AAP on Feb 11. Speaking to the gathering, Karpada said that he joined the BJP so that he can work more effectively for the welfare of farmers in the state.Elections to 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats will be held on April 26 and votes will be counted on April 28.
