Ahmedabad: Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil has resigned from the post of President of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), taking responsibility for the party’s poor performance in the by-elections in the Kadi and Visavadar constituencies, the results of which were declared today.

Addressing the media, Gohil said, “Despite being out of power for 30 years, our workers have fought with determination in the Kadi and Visavadar bypolls. I thank them wholeheartedly. But the results are very bad for the Congress party. There is something called moral responsibility in the Congress party. So, taking that moral responsibility, just some time ago, I sent my resignation to the national president, Kharge ji. Until a new president is elected, our General Secretary Shaileshbhai Parmar will carry out these responsibilities. With this press conference, I am resigning from the post and will continue to work as a Congress worker.”

Later, taking to social media platform X, Gohil said, “I am very proud to be a disciplined soldier of India’ s oldest and ofcourse, the best political party of India. I have worked hard and always endeavoured to (do) and give the best to our Party. Unfortunately, we have not succeeded today. We have lost the Visavadar and Kadi bypolls. I appreciate, acknowledge and am thankful for the consistent support and co-operation I have received  from the Honourable Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji,  our visionary leader Shri Rahul Gandhi ji, General Secretary, Organisation, Shri Venugopal ji and ofcourse our dynamic Gujarat incharge Shri Mukul Wasnik ji. The  mentoring by Rajivji & Soniaji has been the biggest ever blessing in my life that has shaped me as a person and public servant and I will always remain grateful to them. In true spirit of our Congress Party and its’ glorious tradition, I have accepted moral responsibility and have resigned as Gujarat Congress President before a couple of hours. I thank all our party leaders, the excellent Babbar Sher workers of our party, my well wishers, media and all others for their support and belief in me. I believe that our party is more important than any position or individual. I will ofcourse, continue to remain a disciplined soldier of Congress. Always. Jai Congress. Jai Hind”

It is noteworthy that in the by-elections, Aam Aadmi Party’s Gopal Italia emerged victorious in the Visavadar Assembly constituency, whereas the BJP also retained its hold on the Kadi seat which Rajendra Chavda winning the polls with over 3900o vote margin.

Gohil, a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, was appointed as GPCC President in June 2023. Earlier, Gohil had served as Minister of Finance, Health, Education, and Narmada from 1991 to 1995 during Congress rule in Gujarat. He served as an MLA during 1990–95, 1995–98, 2007–2012, and 2014–2017 from his hometown Bhavnagar, and later, in his last term, from Abdasa in Kutch. During his tenure as an MLA from 2007 to 2012, he also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly.

However, after losing a couple of assembly elections, Gohil shifted to national politics and became a Rajya Sabha member. DeshGujarat