Purnesh Modi, BJP MLA behind defamation case against Rahul Gandhi, appointed UT in-charge

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Purnesh Modi as the party in-charge for the Union Territory of Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Purnesh, who filed a criminal defamation case against Rahul Gandhi that led to the MP’s brief disqualification, has been entrusted with the key role for the next three years.

This move is seen by many as a form of “redemption” for the leader, especially considering his earlier removal from the ministry months before the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections.

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The Indian Express quoted Purnesh Modi as saying, “I will work with local teams and strengthen the party at the grassroots level (booth level) to ensure electoral benefits for the BJP. We believe power can be attained through a strong organisation. My focus will lie on booth-level political and micro management.”

The Dadra & Nagar Haveli Lok Sabha seat, previously held by the late Mohan Delkar, has garnered attention due to its connection with the BJP’s broader political strategy.

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Delkar’s widow, Kalaben Delkar, currently holds the seat, and BJP leaders believe Purnesh Modi’s appointment, rooted in his Gujarati background, will positively impact the party in these Lok Sabha constituencies.

According to senior BJP leader Dipak Jadhav, Purnesh’s appointment has generated optimism among party leaders and workers, citing his organisational skills and experience in Surat for over two decades.

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Purnesh Modi, an OBC leader, previously served as the Minister for Roads in the Bhupendra Patel Cabinet before his removal in August 2022. His political journey includes winning three consecutive Assembly elections from Surat West.

Sources suggest that Purnesh’s elevation to the position of UT in-charge may pave the way for his entry onto the national political scene.

Purnesh Modi’s legal victory against Rahul Gandhi stems from a 2019 criminal defamation case filed in a Surat Court over the Congress leader’s remark saying that all thieves were called Modi at a rally in Karnataka’s Kolar. Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP was later stayed by the Supreme Court, following which he was reinstated as an MP.