States
Nishtha Anushree
Dec 13, 2023, 12:37 PM | Updated 12:37 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai Bhayani tendered his resignation from the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (13 December). India TV sources suggest that he might be considering joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Bhayani, who represented the Visavadar seat in Junagadh district, submitted his resignation to Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary in Gandhinagar in the morning, according to an official statement.
His resignation letter, shared on social media, simply states his decision to step down as an MLA without specifying any reasons for the move.
In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly Elections, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP achieved significant success by securing victories in five constituencies, obtaining approximately 13 percent of the vote share.
However, this recent development poses a substantial setback to the party's ambitions of expanding its influence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. Moreover, according to Hindustan, two more MLAs can resign.
Nishtha Anushree is Senior Sub-editor at Swarajya. She tweets at @nishthaanushree.