Jamnagar: Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's wife Rivaba Jadeja joined the BJP on Sunday.
Rivaba joined the saffron party in the presence of Gujarat agriculture minister RC Faldu and MP Poonam Madam.
Rivaba, who is the president of the Karni Sena women's wing in Gujarat, said she was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he was the reason for joining the BJP.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is my inspiration and the reason for me joining the BJP. I believe that I will not just be able to serve my community better but also will be able to give my best to the country by joining the BJP," Rivaba told Ahmedabad Mirror.
She said that her husband was the "pride" of the Rajput community and also the youth of the country.
"Ravindra Jadeja is the pride of not just the Rajput community but also of the youth in the country. But my joining the BJP will help me create my own identity and will set an example for women, whether a celebrity or a homemaker, to empower themselves," she said when asked whether Jadeja's status would help strengthen the party.
"I may have joined the BJP just before election, but let the world not view it through the narrow prism of pre-electoral politics. My intention is to serve the party, the community and the country," she added.
Jamnagar district BJP president Chandresh Patel said, "Rivaba joining the party came as a surprise to me. The only thing I can say is that it will definitely help the party."
In November last year, Jadeja and his wife had met Modi at his official residence in New Delhi.
"Had a wonderful interaction with noted cricket player Ravindrasinh Jadeja and his wife Rivaba," Modi had tweeted.
Jadeja too had taken to Twitter and wrote with a picture, “Proud moment to meet our Honourable Prime Minister shri Narendra Modi saheb”.
Jadeja is currently with the Indian team. He played in the first ODI against Australia in Hyderabad on Sunday. The teams will face off in the second of the five-match series in Nagpur on Tuesday.