Ahmedabad: Radhanpur MLA Alpesh Thakor who had announced to resign from all the posts from Congress over two months ago, informed the Gujarat high court today that he had never left the party and merely on the basis of a social media post the party can’t demand his disqualification from the membership of the Gujarat assembly. It should be notes here that Alpesh had not resigned from primary membership of party.

The division bench of S R Brahmbhatt and A P Thakar would continue the hearing in the matter tomorrow also.

Thakor, also the then national secretary of congress and co-in-charge of the party in Bihar had then said he has not resigned from MLA post despite his claim to have quit all other party posts. After the letter went viral, Alpesh, a somewhat controversial figure, had also supported his claim in press conference later.

Now in the affidavit filed in the court, he has claimed that based on a letter on social media used as personal chatting platform, on which the Gujarat Congress President has not given any formal response, the party can’t demand his disqualification as per the provision of the schedule 10 of the constitution.

He has also challenged the state Congress president to produce the original copy of his resignation if he had any.

Notably, the Gujarat High Court had on June 24 issued notice to Alpesh Thakor in connection with the plea of Congress which has sought direction to the assembly speaker to disqualify him from the membership of the house with immediate effect. The court had also sought explanation from speaker Rajendra Trivedi and fixed June 27 as the next date of hearing.

Congress had moved high court here last month after Alpesh, a former party MLA from Radhanpur seat in North Gujarat refused to resign from the membership of the assembly despite his resignation from the party on April 10 this year days before the LS polls in the state.

Alpesh had claimed to have resigned from congress alleging betrayal but had claimed that he won’t resign from the assembly to serve the poor and needy people. He had posted his letter on social media. He had also campaigned against official Congress candidates in Banaskantha LS constituency and Unjha assembly segment where bye-poll was held simultaneously.

Terming it a sheer indiscipline and anti-party activity, Congress had approached the office of the assembly secretary for his immediate dismissal but as it did not happen the party knocked at the court’s door.

Meanwhile, speculations are rife that Alpesh might join ruling BJP by the end of the month.

Congress Whip Ashwin Kotwal said that Alpesh should be disqualified with immediate effect as he has not only resigned from all posts of Congress but also indulged in anti party activities.

DeshGujarat