Gujarat AAP MLA Umesh Makwana alleges caste bias, resigns from party posts
suspended later for ‘anti-party’ activity
Gandhinagar: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Botad MLA Umesh Makwana resigned from all his party posts on Thursday, alleging caste discrimination within the party. Makwana, who served as AAP’s Whip in the Gujarat Assembly and was also the party’s national joint secretary, said he would continue as an AAP worker. However, just hours later, the party suspended him for five years, accusing him of engaging in “anti-party” and “anti-Gujarat” activities, reported Indian Express.
This came just after AAP’s Gopal Italia won the Visavadar Assembly by-election.
Speaking at a press conference in Gandhinagar, Makwana, who belongs to the Koli community (listed under OBC), claimed that AAP, like other major political parties such as BJP and Congress, only uses backward communities for votes but does not support them after elections. He alleged that leaders from upper castes are given more importance in AAP and that the party ignores backward communities when it comes to assigning major positions.
Makwana said, “Whether it is AAP, BJP or Congress, all use backward communities as vote banks. After elections, leaders from these communities are sidelined. 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 also said he had sent his resignation directly to AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal through WhatsApp and added, “I will continue working as an AAP worker.” On whether he would also resign from his MLA post, Makwana said he would first talk to the people of his constituency, Botad, before making any decision. “They trusted me with this position, and I will not do anything that betrays that trust,” he said.
Makwana denied that his resignation was related to Gopal Italia being possibly named party Whip. “I have not received any such message from the party,” he said.
He also accused the party of caste-based favouritism during recent by-elections. Referring to the Kadi and Visavadar seats, he said, “Our Kadi candidate, a Dalit, had to take a Rs 10 lakh loan to contest. He got no support. In contrast, Gopal Italia, a Patidar, had the full backing of the party. Crores were spent in Visavadar. This kind of discrimination is unacceptable.” Makwana added, “You keep Babasaheb’s photo, but if you don’t follow his ideals, you can’t do politics in his name.”
Following Makwana’s remarks , AAP’s Gujarat president Isudan Gadhvi said that Makwana had been suspended from the party for five years. Gadhvi said they had received several complaints of corruption against Makwana from Botad and that he had been warned several times before. “The leadership has now taken a final decision,” he said.
Gadhvi also accused the BJP of trying to break AAP by poaching its leaders. He said, “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.”
Responding to Makwana’s accusations, AAP spokesperson Yogesh Jadvani said the party had given him many opportunities. “Within 15 days of joining AAP, he was made head of the OBC/SC/ST cell. He was later made a state spokesperson, then elected as MLA in 2022, became national joint secretary, and also the party’s Whip. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he was fielded from Bhavnagar. AAP gave Umeshbhai his political identity,” Jadvani said.
He also alleged that Makwana was not available to support the Koli community when they needed him, and that other AAP leaders, both upper and backward caste, had stepped in instead. “Now he is speaking in the language of the BJP,” Jadvani said.
On the allegation that AAP neglected its Kadi candidate, Jadvani said the candidate had not made any complaints and that Makwana himself had been assigned responsibility for Kadi but was not present during the campaign.
Meanwhile, BJP Gujarat’s media convener Yagnesh Dave responded to Gadhvi’s statements, saying, “Isudanbhai blames BJP for everything. He should look within and understand why people are leaving his party. BJP already has 162 seats and doesn’t need to poach anyone. He should hold himself accountable.”
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Vijayanagara: One dead, 12 injured as trucks hits their vehicle from behind on NH 50
Vijayanagara: One man was killed and 12 others were injured after a truck hit vehicle they were traveling in on the National Highway 50 stretch on the outskirts of Koodligi in the district.
The accident victim, Madhu (27), is learned to have been an employee of Reliance Digital from Andhra Pradesh.
The vehicle was reportedly traveling from Bengaluru to Koodligi and the passengers are learned to have been seriously injured following the collision with the truck, which was found to have a Maharashtra registration.
Koodligi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Mallesh Dodmani and Circle Inspector Prahlad Channagiri arrived at the accident spot on being informed of the accident.
The police officers and locals rescued the injured passengers and got them shifted to the Koodligi Government Hospital. Some of the passengers were reportedly taken to the Ballari Trauma Care Centre for further treatment.
A case has been registered at the Koodligi Police Station and the officers are investigating the incident.
