Gujarat Congress Suspends 5 MLAs Who Resigned As Legislators Ahead Of Rajya Sabha Elections

Gujarat Congress on Monday suspended five party MLAs who resigned as legislators ahead of Rajya Sabha Elections. The five are Pravin Maru from Gadhada, Pradyumansinh Jadeja from Abdasa, Soma Koli Patel from Limbdi, JV Kakadia from Dhari and Mangal Gavit from Dang.

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi had informed the House on Monday that five Congress MLAs have resigned and he has accepted their resignations.

With this, the strength of the Congress party in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly has come down to 69 from 73.

The Congress had on Saturday shifted its 14 MLAs to Jaipur fearing horse-trading by the ruling BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls.

The BJP has fielded Abhay Bhardwaj, Ramila Bara and Narhari Amin for the election.

Given its number in the Assembly, the ruling party can only win two seats unless it manages cross-voting from the opposition camp or ensure defection of Congress MLAs to win the third seat.

The Congress has fielded senior leaders Shaktisinh Gohil and Bharatsinh Solanki.

(With PTI Inputs)