States
Blow To Arvind Kejriwal: AAP MLA In Gujarat Resigns, May Join BJP; Two More Can Follow
Nishtha Anushree
Dec 13, 2023, 12:37 PM | Updated 12:37 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai Bhayani tendered his resignation from the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (13 December). India TV sources suggest that he might be considering joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Bhayani, who represented the Visavadar seat in Junagadh district, submitted his resignation to Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary in Gandhinagar in the morning, according to an official statement.
His resignation letter, shared on social media, simply states his decision to step down as an MLA without specifying any reasons for the move.
In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly Elections, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP achieved significant success by securing victories in five constituencies, obtaining approximately 13 percent of the vote share.
However, this recent development poses a substantial setback to the party's ambitions of expanding its influence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. Moreover, according to Hindustan, two more MLAs can resign.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Nishtha Anushree is Senior Sub-editor at Swarajya. She tweets at @nishthaanushree.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.