Gujarat Congress Scrambles to Woo Sulking Former MLA Asha Patel

Asha Patel accused Congress of factionalism and divisive politics, quit the party and also resigned as MLA of Unjha

Asha Patel resigned as MLA from Unjha in Mehsana and from the Gujarat Congress.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@PagalAnna)

With barely a few months to go for the all-important Lok Sabha election, the Congress in Gujarat were in for a shocker on Saturday, 2 February, after sitting MLA from Unjha in Mehsana District, Asha Patel resigned. Asha Patel who accused the party of factionalism and divisive politics, not only quit the Congress but also resigned as MLA of Unjha

Asha Patel submitted her resignation as MLA to Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi in Gandhinagar Saturday morning which was accepted.

Unjha is one of the seven Assembly seats within the Mehsana Lok Sabha constituency, currently held by the BJP. Of the seven Assembly seats, the BJP holds four while the Congress holds three, including Unjha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hometown Vadnagar also comes under the Unjha constituency.

In her letter addressing Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Patel had stated that she resigned from the party “due to prevalent infighting and because the leadership has been ignoring me”.

Asha Patel tenders her resignation to Speaker of Gujarat Assembly Rajendra Trivedi on Saturday, 2 February, 2019 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat(Photo Courtesy: Twitter @chintan_acharya)

Congress Tries To Woo Patel Back

Rattled by Patel’s sudden resignation last week, the Congress in Gujarat is now trying to convince the disgruntled leader to withdraw her decision, fearing that she might join the ruling BJP. Congress leaders on Monday said Patel has asked for some time to reply on their request to return to the party fold.

“Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani and I spoke with Asha Patel and asked her to take back her resignation, as per the instruction of the Central leadership. She has asked for some time to give her reply.”

Alpesh Thakor, Gujarat Congress MLA

Thakor said they listened to Patel's grievances during their meeting and also delivered a message from the party leadership. “Action will be taken on her grievances,” Thakor said.

Congress leaders are hopeful that Patel will return to the party fold. The Quint spoke with Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesperson Manish Doshi who agreed that Patel’s decision to quit has rattled the party administration in wake of the Lok Sabha Elections.

“We are an inclusive democratic party. I am not dissing her or calling her complaints false. She has claimed to have spoken with the state party president Amit Chavda, Gujarat Congress in charge Rajeev Satav and with the leader of Congress Legislative Party (CLP) Paresh Dhanani before she decided to resign. Dhanani and other Patidar leaders are in talks with her and I am sure she will return to the fold in a matter of days.”

Manish Doshi, Spokesperson, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee 

However, State Congress chief Amit Chavda said Patel seemed to have taken the decision for ‘personal gains’. “Till yesterday, she had not made any representation to the party,” Chavda claimed.

Patel Lauds 10% Quota to EWS

In her resignation letter to party president Rahul Gandhi, she said, “On one hand Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given 10 per cent quota for Economically Weaker Sections, while the Congress is trying to create a rift between different castes here.”

Her representations about the state of affairs in Gujarat Congress were not heeded for the last one year, she claimed. Asked whether she would join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Patel said she would consult the people of her constituency before taking any decision.

Doshi said that unlike Bavaliya, Patel didn’t immediately jump on the BJP Bandwagon, albeit her letter does indicate that she has been influenced by the BJP, “In Bavaliya’s case he quit and immediately joined the BJP, but Asha Patel for now has clearly said she has not decided to join the BJP. However, her resignation letter does indicate that it has had some influence from the saffron party.

“Her letter is was a trademark BJP draft, which states that she is not happy with the way the party is functioning in Gujarat and she was disappointed with Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. I have read several such letters which clearly indicate whose language is being followed.”

Manish Doshi, Spokesperson, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee 

Congress Tally in Assembly Drops

In the 2017 assembly elections, the BJP had won 99 seats in the 182-member house while the Congress bagged 77. With these two exits, the opposition party’s numbers have fallen to 75, while BJP’s tally has increased to 100 after Bavaliya won a by-poll from Jasdan in December.

Asha Patel had won the election in 2017 against Narayan Lalu Patel following the Patidar quota agitation in the state.

Doshi said, “This was not the first time we gave her a ticket. She was given a ticket in 2012 but she lost that election. In 2017, the Patidar agitation turned to be a boon for her in a Patidar dominated constituency.”

Doshi does agree that Congress has lost an important Patidar leader, but also believes that the after effect of the 2017 Assembly election and the victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh will help the Grand Old Party steamroll the BJP in Gujarat in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

(With PTI Inputs)