The former union minister and three-term MP of Rajkot, Dr Vallabh Kathiria, resigned as the president of Gujarat’s only All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rajkot on Aug 20. 

It is imperative to note that Dr Kathiria resigned from the top post just three days into his role after receiving directions from the Centre.

He was appointed as the AIIMS president on Aug 2 and officially took charge on Aug 17. However, he has suddenly resigned on Aug 20.

The resignation comes right before chief minister Bhupendra Patel’s AIIMS visit on Sept 4. 

Talking to the media, Dr Kathiria said that he resigned from the post after receiving directions from the union ministry of health, and he did as directed, without raising any questions.

He added that he is not aware of the reasons behind the resignation.

As per the resignation letter, Kathiria tendered his resignation on Aug 20 and the same was accepted on Aug 25.

The dramatic, sudden resignation

The surgeon and veteran politician, Dr Kathiria was honoured on Sept 1 in a school in Rajkot on account of getting a top post at AIIMS. 

However, Dr Kathiria gave his resignation at the same event, in the presence of veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician Vajubhai Vala.

Who is Dr Vallabh Kathiria?

Kathiria, a veteran MP, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rajkot for four consecutive terms between 1996 and 2004. He served as the minister of state for health and family welfare in the Vajpayee government in 1999.

Later, in 2011, the Gujarat government appointed him as the chairman of an autonomous body, the Gauseva and Gauchar Vikas Board.

He was appointed chairman of the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) in 2019. 

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