In U-turn, Gujarat BJP MP Mansukh Vasava says he will withdraw resignation

A day after he resigned from the BJP, Bharuch constituency MP Mansukh Vasava Wednesday declared to withdraw his resignation and reiterated that he does not have any issue with the government or the party. Vasava added that his resignation was owing to his health issues and that he decided to withdraw the resignation following discussion with party leadership which persuaded him to continue as party MP.

Vasava, former union minister and six-time MP from the tribal dominated constituency of Bharuch in central Gujarat, declared withdrawal of his resignation after a half-hour long meeting with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the state capital. He later addressed the media in the presence of senior cabinet minister in Gujarat government Ganpat Vasava.

“I have pain in my back and neck. And I resigned with the sole objective of taking rest. Doctors and vaid who are treating me are also of the opinion that I will get relief from the pain only if I take rest. Else, I do not have any problem with the government or the party,” Vasava said.

“I have spoken with the central leadership. So, they say that, ‘If you continue as an MP then, your treatment will be done from government expenses. If you cease to be an MP, then government will not be able to give you that much relief. So, you take rest and other party workers in the region will take over your responsibilities.’ The party is doing an arrangement accordingly. And therefore, I am withdrawing my decision (to resign),” Vasava added without naming the central leadership with whom he had spoken.

In his letter to resign from the party, Vasava had stated that he would resign as party MP from Lok Sabha in the upcoming session of the parliament.

The resignation letter, addressed to Gujarat BJP president C R Paatil, came days after he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the withdrawal of a Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notification declaring 121 villages in Narmada district as eco-sensitive zone to mitigate the protests by tribal communities.

Following his resignation letter Tuesday, Paatil had told media persons that Vasava’s resentment was mainly over the issue of declaration of eco sensitive zone in his region and that they are trying to persuade him. Paatil had expressed confidence of solving the issue while adding that the party was proud to have an MP like Vasava who was ready to fight for the issues of people of his constituency.