Congress veteran leader DD Rajput resigns from Banaskantha seat

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, in yet another blow to Congress in Gujarat, DD Rajput, state Congress general secretary and veteran leader of the Rajput community, resigned today.

Rajput’s exit from Congress is believed to be a big jolt for Geni Thakor, Congress’ Lok Sabha candidate for Banaskantha.

Why did DD Rajput resign?

Rajput has resigned, citing his discontent with the Congress leaders who did not attend the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony. There are speculations that Rajput, who is the president of Tharad Rajput Samaj, is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

It is to be noted that in the 2017 assembly elections, Rajput was contesting from the Tharad seat. 

Both the BJP and Congress have fielded female candidates for the Banaskantha seat. BJP’s Dr Rekha Chaudhary and Geniben Thakor, MLA from Banaskantha’s Vav in Congress. However, Congress’s strength in the region may be compromised by Rajput’s resignation.

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