In a setback for the Gujarat unit of the Congress party, its senior leader and Porbandar MLA Arjun Modhwadia (67) resigned from the party, ending an association that goes back several decades.
Modhwadia sent a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge informing him of his resignation.
“Over and above since last few years, I found myself helpless to contribute to the people of my district Porbandar and the state of Gujarat,” said Modhwadia in his letter.
On Monday, Modhwadia was conspicuous by his absence at the media interaction of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC). Even though he was already on his way to hand over his resignation to the Speaker, Congress leaders remained in denial when asked about the rumours that Modhwadia had left the grand old party.
Within a couple of hours, the Porbandar MLA confirmed he felt “suffocated” and that ending his decades-old association with the party was a “relief”.
For the grand old party, the setback is immense. Not only is Arjun Modhwadia a sitting MLA and a main OBC face, but he has also been among the most vocal critics of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Gujarat government over the years.
A mechanical engineer by qualification, Modhwadia joined the Congress in 1993. In his maiden election in 2002, he was elected as an MLA from Porbandar. He was re-elected in 2007. He lost the 2012 and 2017 elections but, in 2022, was re-elected for a third term.
Interestingly, in January, Modhwadia openly voiced his disagreement with the party for turning down the invitation to the Ram temple consecration ceremony.
Speculation is rife that the veteran politician is all set to join the BJP. However, Modhwadia is yet to confirm his move.