New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat today (Mar 21, 2004) received a shot in the arm with the heirs of princely state of Baroda joining the party.

Maharani Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad, wife of Maharaja Ranjitsingh Gaekwad of Baroda, and their son Samarjitsingh Gaekwad joined the BJP at party president M Venkaiah Naidu's residence in New Delhi.

Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and party general secretary and Law Minister Arun Jaitley were also present at the joining ceremony.

"She expressed her desire to join BJP and we are welcoming her in the party," Naidu said, adding the two will campaign for the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

"BJP is strong in Gujarat and this family joining party will give it more strength," he said.

Shubhanginiraje, who lost the 1996 Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate from Vadodara said, "The BJP has already declared its candidate from Vadodara seat and we did not join the party on the condition that I should contest the polls."

"I am happy campaigning for the party," she said.

Samarjitsingh, a first class cricket player, said he would like to concentrate on working for the party and grow with the organisation before throwing his hat in the electoral ring.