In a significant blow to the Congress party ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Arjun Modhwadia, a prominent leader from Gujarat, made headlines by resigning from both the party and his position as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) on Monday.
Hailing from the Mer community in coastal Saurashtra, Modhwadia boasts a rich political background as a former Leader of the Opposition and Gujarat unit Congress president. His resignation was formally tendered to Gujarat Assembly Speaker, Shankarbhai Chaudhary.
Rumors are rife that Modhwadia is inclined towards joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move that could further shake the Congress camp.
Simultaneously, Ambarish Der, the Working President of the Gujarat Congress and a former MLA from the Rajula assembly constituency, also parted ways with the party on the same day.
Modhwadia's decision to step down follows a series of public disagreements with the Congress' central leadership, notably regarding the party's abstention from attending the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya back in January.
This departure is widely regarded as a significant setback for the Congress in Gujarat, given Modhwadia's close association with the late Congress stalwart, Ahmed Patel, and his influential role in the state's political landscape.
Meanwhile, Ambarish Der, who voiced his dissatisfaction with the party's leadership, emphasized the need for the Congress to function more akin to a political entity rather than an NGO.
A prominent figure within the Ahir community, Der announced his intentions to rejoin the BJP in a ceremony slated for March 5 at the Gujarat BJP headquarters, Shree Kamalam, in Gandhinagar. Additionally, a public event is scheduled to commemorate his re-entry into the BJP fold at the Rajula Assembly constituency.
Der made it clear that his return to the BJP is unconditional, underscoring his resolve to realign with the party.
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