Porbandar MLA, former leader of opposition in Gujarat Assembly and Gujarat Congress spokesperson in Gujarat Shri Arjun Modhwadia is appointed Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee’s new Chief. Modhwadia will replace existing President Siddharth Patel who had completed his term in the middle of last year but was asked to stay on the post for extended period. Patel had offered resignation from his post in October last year after party’s near total defeat in statewide civic polls. Since then the decision on appointment of new Gujarat Congress President was pending before Delhi high command of the party.

Persons close to this development told DeshGujarat that there were two names in race for the post of Gujarat Congress President: Shankarsinh Vaghela and Arjun Modhwadia. Of them Shankarsinh had put a condition before the central leadership that he would accept the post only if he is allowed to run the show independently. The other condition he had put was that once he becomes President, smt Sonia Gandhi would have to tell all fractions of Gujarat Congress to walk unitedly under his leadership.

It is believed that Ahmed Patel was not in favour of appointment of Shankarsinh Vaghela due to Vaghela’s independent nature, and dominating image. Patel had offered Vaghela a post of Governor which Vaghela refused saying that his bungalow in Gandhinagar was better than any Rajbhavan in the country.

Political analysts clearly believe that Arjun Modhwadia is Shri Ahmed Patel’s choice. When Modhwadia was elected as an MLA for the first time in Gujarat assembly, he was awarded the post of the leader of the opposition straight away overtaking all other senior MLAs.

Following is the complete detail of Shri Arjunbhai Modhwadia:

Born : 17th February 1957, Modhvada village of Porbandar district in coastal Saurashtra.

Education : B. E. (Mechanical), M.I.E.

Spouse and Children : Smt. Hirabahen, one son, one daughter.

Occupation : Engineering, agriculture.

Parliamentary Career :Elected to Gujarat assembly and appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on 26th October 2004. He stayed on this position till 2007 December. In 2007 he was reelected from Porbandar. He was then made spokesperson of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee(GPCC).

Activities : Member, (1) Indian National Congress, (2) Senate and Syndicate, Saurashtra University, for 20 years. President, Gramya Bharati High School, Bagvadar. Founder, Dr. Goraniya Women Arts, Commerce, Home Science and Computer Science College. General Secretary, Gujarat Region Congress Committee. Trustee, T. B. Hospital being run by Sorath Kshay Nivaran Samiti. Participated in the Second Conference of Asia Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held in Sri Lanka in August – September 2003 as a Delegate of Gujarat.

Hobby : Reading, Tennis, tree plantation, youth activities, freeing people from addiction.

Travels Abroad : U.K., France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, U.A.E., Singapore, Malaysia, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka.

Permanent Address : Parth, 1, Bhojeshwar Plot, Porbandar – 360 575.Tel. Nos. : (0286) 2246733 (0286) 2246733, 2246700, 9825012755, 9825012755(M),23253634 (Tata)

Modhwadia also owns a house in Ahmedabad.

Modhwadia receiving wishes from supporters and party members at Gujarat Congress headquarter in Ahmedabad