Surat has witnessed a jolt for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as Alpesh Kathiriya and Dharmik Malaviya, who emerged as leaders post the Patidar reservation agitation, have resigned from the party. These resignations come from candidates who have previously contested elections from Olpad and Varaccha constituencies of Surat.
The Patidar reservation movement, initiated by the young Patidar community in 2015, has, while failing to secure reservations, undoubtedly sparked the rise of many political figures, including Hardik Patel.
Hardik's Switch from Congress to BJP
Once a star campaigner for the Congress and trying to rally support across states, Hardik Patel ultimately did not find success and turned to the BJP, now representing the Veermagam seat in Gujarat.
Alpesh and Dharmik's Electoral Defeat
Alpesh Kathiriya and Dharmik Malaviya, both instrumental figures during the Patidar agitation, ventured into politics through AAP. However, their electoral bids in the last Gujarat assembly elections met with defeat at the hands of the voters, resulting in a resounding loss for both.
After their election loss, there was a noticeable absence of both leaders from AAP's public platforms.
The Reason Behind Their Resignation
Amidst speculation, Kathiriya and Malaviya resigned from AAP on April 18th, citing the inability to allocate time due to personal and social responsibilities. When asked about joining the BJP, they denied any immediate plans but mentioned they would inform the public if situations change.
AAP's Declining Foothold in Gujarat
The resignations signal a setback for AAP in Gujarat as their support base seems to be dwindling, affecting the morale of party leaders and workers alike. AAP's situation in Gujarat is currently not very promising.
