Latest news with #anti-Gujarat
Scroll.in
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
AAP suspends Gujarat MLA hours after he quit all party posts alleging caste bias
Accusing the Aam Aadmi Party of caste-based discrimination, Umesh Makwana, the MLA from Gujarat's Botad, resigned from all party posts on Thursday, reported The Indian Express. Hours later, the party suspended him for five years, alleging that he was involved in 'anti-party' and 'anti-Gujarat' activities. After announcing his resignation, Makwana, a member of the Koli community that is categorised as an Other Backward Class, said he would consult his constituents before deciding whether to resign as MLA. Makwana alleged during a press conference that the Aam Aadmi Party, like other political parties, had 'failed to support backward communities beyond elections'. 'The party does not raise its voice for backward communities,' Makwana was quoted as saying by The Indian Express 'When it comes to giving key posts, preference is given to the swarna samaj [upper castes].' He also claimed that today the Aam Aadmi Party was 'deviating from the principles of Dr BR Ambedkar', ANI reported. Makwana told the news agency that he would 'discuss with some people whether or not to form a separate party'. Makwana accused the party of caste-based bias in campaign support, citing the recent bye-polls in Kadi and Visavadar. 'The party leaders concentrated only on the Visavadar poll and invested all resources there because Gopal Italia is a Patidar,' The Hindu quoted Makwana as saying. 'On the other hand, our Kadi candidate Jagdish Chavda did not receive any help because he is a Dalit. Chavda took a loan of Rs 10 lakh to fight the poll. Why such discrimination?' He stated that his decision to quit the party had nothing to do with Italia potentially being appointed the party's whip – a post that he had held, The Indian Express reported. Hours later, the AAP's Gujarat chief Isudan Gadhvi announced Makwana's suspension, stating that the party had received multiple complaints of corruption against him from Botad.
India Gazette
9 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Anyone who works against party or public will face consequences": Gujarat AAP chief after party suspend Umesh Makwana for 5 years
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 26 (ANI): Gujarat AAP president Isudan Gadhvi on Thursday announced that Umesh Makwana has been suspended from the party for five years after repeated corruption complaints and anti-party activities. He accused the BJP of using Makwana for political gains after their loss in Visavadar and challenged both the BJP and Makwana to resign and try winning the Botad seat again. 'We were continuously receiving corruption complaints against Umesh Makwana from Botad. He spent more time in Gandhinagar than in his own constituency. Once the BJP learned about this, they took advantage of the situation and began playing dirty politics. After their loss in Visavadar, the BJP became desperate and started using Umesh Makwana to act against the party. That's why we took strong action. Anyone who works against the party or the public will face consequences. We have suspended Umesh Makwana for five years. I challenge both the BJP and Umesh Makwana, resign first, then try winning the Botad elections again,' Gadhvi said. Through a social media post on X, Isudan Gadhvi wrote, 'Umesh Makwana is suspended from the party for five years for engaging in anti-party and anti-Gujarat activities' Earlier in the day, Gujarat's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Botad constituency MLA Umesh Makwana resigned from all party posts on Thursday. In his resignation letter, Makwana wrote that his social services had decreased, and he would work for the party as a worker.'At present, my social services are decreasing, so I am resigning from all the posts of the Aam Aadmi Party. I will work for the party as a worker,' the letter read. Speaking to ANI, Makwana stated that he left the BJP to join AAP, further stating that his resignation came as he felt AAP was deviating from the principles of BR Ambedkar. 'I worked in the BJP on different posts for 20 years. At the time when no one even recognised AAP in Gujarat, I left the ruling BJP party to join the Aam Aadmi Party. Today, in AAP, I feel we are deviating from the principles of Dr BR Ambedkar; This is why I have resigned from all posts of Aam Aadmi Party. I continue to work as a party worker. I will go among the people of Botad. I will meet a few people to discuss whether or not to form a separate party...' he stated. Meanwhile, AAP candidate Gopal Italia won the Visavadar seat while BJP's Rajendrakumar (Rajubhai) Daneshwar Chavda won the Kadi seat in Gujarat's bye-elections. The Visavadar seat fell vacant after Bhayani Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai resigned. Visavadar assembly constituency is part of Junagadh district and a segment of Junagadh Lok Sabha constituency. (ANI)
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Gujarat AAP MLA Umesh Makwana resigns from party posts, alleges caste bias; suspended hours later for ‘anti-party' activity
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Botad, Umesh Makwana, resigned from his party posts on Thursday, levelling allegations of caste-based discrimination against the party. Makwana, who was AAP's Whip in the Gujarat Assembly and a national joint secretary, said he would consult his constituents before deciding whether to resign as MLA. He had said he would continue as an AAP worker, but hours later, the party announced his suspension for five years, citing 'anti-party' and 'anti-Gujarat' activities. The development comes shortly after AAP's Gopal Italia won the Visavadar assembly bypoll. Addressing a press conference in Gandhinagar, Makwana—who belongs to the Koli community, classified as OBC—alleged that AAP, like other political parties, 'fails to support backward communities beyond elections'. 'Whether it is AAP, BJP or Congress, all use backward communities as vote banks. After elections, leaders from these communities are sidelined,' he said. Claiming that upper caste leaders are prioritised for prominent positions within AAP, Makwana said, 'The party does not raise its voice for backward communities. When it comes to giving key posts, preference is given to the swarna samaj (upper castes).' He added, 'I have sent my resignation directly to Arvind Kejriwal (the party's national convener) on WhatsApp. But I will continue working as an AAP worker.' On whether he would quit the Assembly as well, he said, 'I will consult the people of Botad. They trusted me with this position, and I will not do anything that betrays that trust.' Makwana denied that his resignation was linked to Gopal Italia potentially being appointed party Whip. 'I have not received any such message from the party,' he said. Citing recent bypolls in Kadi and Visavadar, Makwana accused the party of caste-based bias in campaign support. 'Our Kadi candidate, a Dalit, fought the election after taking a Rs 10 lakh loan. He got no support. In contrast, Gopal Italia, a Patidar, had the entire party machinery behind him. Crores were spent in Visavadar. This discrimination will not be tolerated,' he alleged. 'You keep Babasaheb's photo, but if you don't follow his ideals, you can't do politics in his name,' he added. In response, Gujarat AAP president Isudan Gadhvi said the party had suspended Makwana for five years. 'We had been receiving complaints of corruption from Botad against him. He was warned multiple times. The leadership has now taken a final decision,' he said. Gadhvi also alleged the BJP was attempting to destabilise AAP by poaching its leaders. 'If Makwana has the courage, he should resign as MLA and recontest. I challenge the BJP to give him a ticket and try to win Botad,' he said. AAP spokesperson Yogesh Jadvani rejected Makwana's allegations of bias, saying the party had given him multiple opportunities. 'Within 15 days of joining AAP, he was made head of the OBC/SC/ST cell, later became a state spokesperson, then an MLA in 2022, national joint secretary, and Whip. He was also fielded from Bhavnagar in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. AAP gave Umeshbhai his political identity,' Jadvani said. He added, 'When the Koli community needed him, he was often absent. Other AAP leaders, from both upper and backward castes, stepped in. He is now speaking the BJP's language.' On the allegation that AAP neglected its candidate in Kadi, Jadvani said, 'The Kadi candidate hasn't made any complaint. Umeshbhai was assigned responsibility for Kadi, but he did not remain present during the campaign.' Responding to Gadhvi's accusations, BJP Gujarat media convener Yagnesh Dave said, 'Isudanbhai is in the habit of blaming BJP for everything. He should look inward and understand why people are leaving his party. BJP has 162 seats and doesn't need to poach MLAs. He should hold himself accountable.'
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Gujarat AAP MLA resigns from all party posts; suspended
The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday (June 26, 2025) suspended its MLA Umesh Makwana for "anti-party" activities, hours after he resigned from all the party posts, except as legislator, claiming the AAP has failed to raise issues of the backward classes. The MLA's move came just three days after the AAP retained its Visavadar seat in the State in a bypoll. Mr. Makwana, who represents the Botad seat, announced in Gandhinagar that he has resigned as the party's National Secretary and whip in the State Assembly. The MLA, who belongs to the Koli (Other Backward Class) community, said he will continue to work as an ordinary AAP worker. Asked if he was also planning to resign as MLA, Mr. Makwana said he will take a decision after consulting the people of his constituency to make sure they do not suffer. Soon after his move, Gujarat AAP president Isudan Gadhvi issued a statement announcing Mr. Makwana's suspension. "Umesh Makwana has been suspended from AAP for five years for indulging in anti-party and anti-Gujarat activities," Mr. Gadhvi said in the statement. Mr. Makwana was one of the five AAP MLAs elected for the first time in the 2022 polls to the 182-member State assembly. His sudden announcement came just three days after AAP leader Gopal Italia won the bypoll to the Visavadar seat in Junagadh district by defeating BJP candidate Kirit Patel. In the 2022 Assembly polls, AAP's Bhupendra Bhayani emerged victorious in Visavadar, but the seat fell vacant in December 2023 after Bhayani resigned and joined the ruling BJP. In the bypoll held recently, former state AAP chief Italia defeated BJP's Kirit Patel by a comfortable margin of 17,554 votes. The AAP, however, faced defeat in Mehsana's Kadi constituency, reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, where party nominee Jagdish stood third. The BJP retained the seat, while Congress came second. Addressing a press conference in Gandhinagar, Makwana alleged that all parties, be it the BJP, Congress or AAP, always ignore backward classes when it comes to offering them key posts such as chief minister or party president. "The population of OBCs, including Kolis, is highest in Gujarat. But, the BJP, despite being in power for nearly 30 years, never made an OBC as the CM of Gujarat or their party president. The Congress also failed to raise issues concerning Kolis and other backward classes," he claimed. Irrespective of parties, the OBC leaders are given importance only during elections but sidelined once the polls are over, Mr. Makwana charged. He claimed the AAP has also failed to raise issues concerning the backward classes. "Be it Gujarat's politics or national politics, there is no meaning of hanging a photograph of Dr BR Ambedkar in offices if the party can't walk on the path shown by him," Mr. Makwana said. "That is why I am resigning from all the party posts. I will take a decision on quitting as MLA after consulting my people in Botad. I have also called a meeting of all the OBC leaders in the coming days to discuss the road ahead. I will share my future plans after that meeting," he said. Mr. Makwana also accused the AAP's national and local leadership of being biased against the party's Dalit candidate in Kadi seat, Jagdish Chavda, who lost the election. "The party leaders concentrated only on the Visavadar poll and invested all resources there because Gopal Italia is a Patidar. On the other hand, our Kadi candidate Jagdish Chavda did not receive any help because he is a Dalit. Chavda took a loan of Rs 10 lakh to fight the poll. Why such discrimination?" he asked.
Hans India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Gujarat AAP's Makwana resigns from all posts; alleges bias against OBCs
Ahmedabad: Botad MLA Umesh Makwana has announced his resignation from all positions within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat, accusing the party of discrimination against members of the OBCs. However, he clarified that he is not resigning from his MLA seat. Makwana submitted his resignation from the posts of AAP's Gujarat Assembly Whip as well as the party's National Joint Secretary, stating that his decision was based on long-standing internal bias within the party's structure. 'The Aam Aadmi Party, like the BJP and Congress, has shown step-motherly treatment to the people of the Backward Classes,' Makwana said in a statement. 'All political parties, without exception, have been unfair to OBC communities,' he added. Makwana, who has been one of AAP's more prominent OBC faces in Gujarat, claimed that despite repeated attempts to raise concerns over representation and internal equity, his voice was ignored. On this, AAP's Isudan Gadhvi posted, 'Umesh Makwana is suspended from the party for five years for anti-party and anti-Gujarat activities.' Makwana, a from Bhavnagar University, is a social worker and philanthropist, known locally for establishing primary and secondary schools. He is also known for distributing over 600,000 food packets during the COVID‑19 lockdown along with other AAP MLAs under the 'Manavta Seva Rath' initiative. Belonging to the Koli community, he runs a construction and general trading business, and declared assets worth around Rs 85 lakh with liabilities of Rs 28 lakh in his 2022 election affidavit. High on civic engagement, his legislative record shows nearly 97 per cent attendance and 24 Assembly debates, far above state averages. Political observers believe this move could trigger tensions within AAP's Gujarat unit, which is still building its grassroots presence in the state. Makwana's exit from organisational roles is being seen as a blow to the party's efforts to consolidate OBC support ahead of future electoral battles. Makwana's continued position as a sitting MLA may indicate his intention to either remain as an Independent or align with another party in the near future. Meanwhile, the AAP delivered a strong electoral performance by retaining the Visavadar Assembly seat in Gujarat's bypolls held on June 19, with senior leader Gopal Italia defeating the BJP's Kirit Patel by a margin of 17,554 votes (75,942 to 58,388).
