Gandhinagar, June 26 (H.S.): Umesh Makwana, AAP MLA from Botad, has been suspended for five years for anti-party activities after expressing intention to remain an activist post-resignation. He informed party convenor Arvind Kejriwal of his resignation in a letter. AAP Gujarat president Isudan Gadhvi confirmed this suspension, citing Makwana's detrimental actions against the party and state. Makwana served as the National Joint Secretary and chief whip in the Gujarat Assembly for two and a half years but felt his capacity to serve had declined. His resignation is viewed as a setback for AAP following their recent by-election win in Visavdar with candidate Gopal Italia.

Makwana previously secured his Botad seat in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections by defeating BJP's Ghanshyam Virani by 2,779 votes, with AAP achieving five total seats and nearly 13 percent vote share.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar