Another rebel BJP MLA quits

Continuing with their decision to embarrass the party ahead of elections, one more dissident BJP MLA resigned from the Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday.

Ramila Desai, who represented Kheralu constituency in Mehsana district, gave her resignation to Speaker Mangalbhai Patel amid applause from her supporters. “I am a free bird today,” she said before entering the Speaker’s chamber. “I told the Speaker that he represented the narrowest party interest while sitting on a chair that is supposed to be the epitome of neutral attitude. His tenure has been the darkest for any Speaker in the history of Gujarat,” she said while coming out. Last Friday, Siddharth Parmar of Rajkot (Rural) had resigned.

In a related development, second-in-command of the BJP rebels, former CM Suresh Mehta, held a press meet in Ahmedabad and lambasted the Modi Government on law and order situation in the state. Challenging Modi’s figures on crime, Mehta queried in jest: “If things are so good, why Modi needs 40 commandoes, 10 bullet-proof jeeps, a jammer van, and other arrangements for his safety?”