'Insulted again and again': Congress's Alpesh Thakor quits as Gujarat-MLA
Gujarat OBC leader Alpesh Thakor has resigned from the post of Congress MLA from Radhanpur after voting against the party's candidates in the Rajya Sabha bypolls. He also blamed the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. Alpesh, along with his aide and rebel Congress MLA Dhavalsinh Zala, voted for BJP candidates, S Jaishankar and Jugalji Thakor, in the Rajya Sabha bypolls on Friday. Here's more.
Have resigned from the post of Congress MLA: Alpesh
"I joined Congress trusting Rahul Gandhi, but unfortunately he did nothing for us," Alpesh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. "We were insulted again and again. So, I have resigned from the post of Congress MLA," he added. Meanwhile, his close aide Dhavalsinh has also resigned from the Gujarat Assembly.
Here's what Alpesh said after quitting as Congress MLA
We faced repeated insult from people in Congress: Alpesh
After voting for BJP candidates in RS bypolls, Alpesh said, "I have voted for an honest national leadership. I listened to my conscience. We faced repeated insult from the people in Congress." However, after its MLAs cross-voted for BJP candidates, the Congress, seeking their disqualification, filed a complaint with Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi and the Returning Officer appointed by the Election Commission.
Alpesh and Zala defied the constitutional process: Congress leader
"Two MLAs of Congress - Alpesh Thakor and Zala - voted in favor of BJP. They have defied the constitutional process," said Congress leader and Gujarat's Leader of Opposition, Paresh Dhanani. "We approached the election officer during the voting. We have also lodged a complaint with the Speaker of the Assembly... We will fight to get them disqualified from the Assembly," he added.
Congress has written for disqualification of the two MLAs: Dhanani
Any future decision will be taken by Thakor Sena: Alpesh
Asked whether he plans to join BJP, Alpesh said, "I have resigned to work for the causes of my community. This is not my personal decision. It is a collective decision of my community. Any future decision will be taken by the Thakor Sena."
