Setback for BJP as senior Gujarat leader Reshma Patel quits party

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on a high with many senior Opposition leaders taking the saffron plunge, a Gujarat BJP leader Reshma Patel on Friday resigned from the party alleging that it has become a marketing company and its members have become salespersons. Patel announced that she would contest the upcoming elections to the Porbandar Lok Sabha seat and Manavadar Assembly constituency as an Independent if she is not offered any ticket from mainstream political parties.

 “I am resigning from the BJP by writing this resignation letter to state president Jitu Vaghani. I have decided to relieve myself from BJP as the party uses its workers and leaders only for marketing its ‘hollow’ schemes. I have also decided to contest the election from Porbandar Parliamentary constituency. I request the Opposition parties to come on one platform, clear their stand about the Porbandar seat. I also propose to fight the seat together. I appeal them to give an opportunity to a woman to contest the election so that the representation of women increases,” Patel told reporters in Rajkot as reported by the Indian Express. She added, “But if that does not happen, in that event, I will contest the Porbandar Parliamentary seat and Manavadar Assembly constituency as an Independent.”

Patel was once one of the leading members of the Hardik Patel-led quota agitation body- Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). But she had joined the BJP ahead of the December 2017 Assembly polls, after accusing Hardik of being a "Congress agent" and trying to use the agitation to overthrow the present state government led by the BJP. Hardik recently joined the Congress.