Big blow to Congress in Gujarat, former state chief quits after struggling in sidelines

Arjun Modhwadia was conspicuous by his absence at the media interaction of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Monday, which shared the itinerary of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which enters the state on March 7. Even though the Porbandar MLA 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 quit.

Within a couple of hours, Modhwadia, 67, confirmed he felt “suffocated” and that ending his 40-year association with the Congress was a “relief”. “If there is any leader who has travelled most extensively for the Congress or held events for the party, it is me. If I have had to quit the party, it is for the Congress to introspect why I was forced to do so,” he said.

In his resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Modhwadia said, “Since my dissent, I have met scores of people who were offended by the manner in which the Congress insulted Lord Ram by boycotting the (consecration ceremony) in Ayodhya. To further distract from and humiliate this pious occasion, Rahul Gandhi attempted to create ruckus in Assam (during his Yatra), which further angered our party cadres and citizens of Bharat. In the last few years, I found myself helpless to contribute to the people of my district Porbandar and the state of Gujarat… Hence, it is with a heavy heart that I am resigning from all positions in the Congress, a party with which I have been associated for the past several decades and given my entire life for.”

At least three top leaders from the Congress central leadership had tried to convince Modhwadia to delete his tweet expressing his dissent on January 10, days before the temple consecration, but