Vadgam: A former Congress Member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Vadgam constituency in North Gujarat, Manibhai J Vaghela has resigned from Congress party. Vaghela in his resignation letter stated that the congress party enrolls and encourage so-called Dalit leaders who create ill-will among communities. He said efforts are made in Congress party to harm the self-esteem of old and experienced leaders.

In his resignation letter addressing President of Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi, Vaghela said that the Congress party had promised to give him party’s mandate to contest Vadgam (Scheduled Caste reserved) seat. However the party didn’t keep its promise and supported an independent candidate in the state assembly election of 2017.

Vaghela had won Vadgam seat in year 2012 against then cabinet minister of ruling BJP. He has served in tlauka and district panchayat as well. In his resignation letter, he has reminded party leadership that in year 2017 Rajya Sabha election, 14 to 15 then Congress MLAs had left the party but he had been loyal to the party for which he was facilitated in Delhi and given promise that his candidature from Vadgam shall continue, however the party later asked him not to contest in favor of independent candidate (Jignesh Mevani).

Vaghela in his resignation letter to party’s national president Sonia Gandhi has further stated, “I also have an ability to emerge as a Dalit Neta by giving such provocative speeches. However as per my ideology, the party should not be for any particular cast or community. The party can only be strengthened by supporting all the classes of the society and by adopting a conciliatory approach. The efforts are made to harm the self-esteem of old and experienced leaders of the party in Gujarat by giving entries and encouragement the so-called Dalit leaders who generate ill-will among the communities.”

He stated that he reigned considering the incompetence and immature decisions by the former president of Indian National Congress (Rahul Gandhi).

It’s worth noting that Vaghela was Congress MLA from Vadgam seat where Muslims are in significant numbers and therefore the seat is considered safe for Congress. The seat is reserved for scheduled caste candidates. Ahead of year 2017 general elections of State assembly, left-NGO activist Jignesh Mevani called on then Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Convinced by Mevani during the meet, Rahul Gandhi asked Gujarat Congress not to field party’s candidate in Vadgam seat and extend support to Mevani as independent candidate there. Politically novice Mevani thus entered the State assembly. As Gujarat is going to witness general elections of State assembly next year, Mevani apparently in attempt to confirm Congress support recently joined Congress party and made announcement that he would contest assembly election next year as Congress candidate. Not only Vaghela, but number of Dalit leaders of Gujarat Congress are upset with Mevani getting a safe seat ticket easily after meeting Rahul Gandhi. Vaghela has been first to raise his voice openly. Possibilities of Vaghela joining ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contest from Vadgam as BJP candidate next year can’t be denied. DeshGujarat