Ahmedabad: As many as 8 Congress MLAs in Gujarat have resigned from the membership of State Assembly ahead of four seat Rajya Sabha elections, paving way for victory of 3 BJP candidates. State party president Amit Chavda today interacted with media persons over the same.

Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda today in a reply to question asked by media persons said, Congress party has maintained clear line from day one that its first (preference) candidate in upcoming Rajya Sabha elections is Shaktisinhbhai and second candidate is Bharatsinhbhai. Chavda said, though it appears that one of two Congress candidates is losing, Congress has strategy and plan to give best effort and bring results in its favor.

Chavda said one MLA Jitubhai Chaudhary who resigned a day before yesterday had just one day before his resignation had come to his house to present the boxes of Mango. Another MLA Brijesh Merja who resigned today had yesterday attended a meeting of party (for two hours) regarding upcoming Rajya Sabha polls and given suggestions to act against the government.

Chavda said, MLAs who resigned had ample time to discuss if there was any issue with party. In recent months, the MLAs who have left party now were vocal against the State government.

Chavda alleged that K.Kailashnathan, a senior retired IAS officer who works in Chief Minister’s Office executes political agenda of Prime Minister Modi by indulging into political deals.

Chavda said the MLAs who have resigned were given ticket based on surveys conducted by party regarding winability criteria.

Yesterday morning Chavda had strongly refuted reports of resignation of party MLAs and termed them as rumors. Later it was revealed that two Congress MLAs had resigned a day ago in person before the assembly speaker and Chavda was unaware about this development till the time the Speaker announced it formally.

Polling for four Rajya Sabha seats is scheduled to take place on June 19. With MLAs switching over to BJP, it appears, Congress will be able to win only one seat instead of two.

DeshGujarat