Umesh Makwana’s resignation from his posts as National Joint Secretary and Whip has spoiled AAP’s celebration of Gujarat’s Visavadar by-election win. He accused the party of ending up like other parties and using Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s picture as a mere symbol.
On 26 June, Umesh Makwana resigned from all his posts without quitting the party or resigning from the MLA post. However, he will continue as a party worker. He has been representing AAP in Botad since 2022 as an MLA. He had defeated BJP’s Ghanshyam Virani by 2,799 votes and secured 43% of the vote share. In an interview with ANI, Makwana expressed his disappointment.
“When in Gujarat, no one was even recognizing the AAP party, that’s when I left the ruling party and joined AAP. I joined the party because in Gujarat, there are more poor communities, there are more backward communities, and injustice was happening to them. No one was listening to them despite having the majority of the vote share. All the parties just take their votes, but whenever it comes to giving them a higher post—whether it is the BJP, Congress, or Aam Aadmi Party—they all disclaim responsibility. We keep pictures of Babasaheb Ambedkar in every office, but I feel that we are deviating from the original ideology. That is why today, I have resigned from all the positions of the Aam Aadmi Party,” said Umesh Makwana.
On being asked about his future endeavors and commitment towards his assembly voters, he clarified that there is no point in joining the BJP because they have never raised the issue of the Koli community. The BJP has not formed a Chief Minister from the Koli community or the OBC community. As far as the Congress is concerned, it is not even present in Gujarat. It has completely disappeared. Whatever works in the interest of SC, ST, and OBC communities—if needed, he can form his own party.
Gujarat AAP blames BJP, calls Makwana corrupt
In response to Makwana’s resignation and accusations, the state president of Gujarat, Isudan Gadhvi, came down heavily upon Makwana on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. Gadhvi informed that the party has suspended the MLA for engaging in anti-party and anti-people activities for five years. Makwana has been warned multiple times for corruption, but he hasn’t stopped, Gadhvi charged. Gadhvi also attacked the BJP.
“I challenge Umesh Makwana. The BJP has done dirty politics. In Visavadar, they poached our MLA and made him resign from the seat. But we won the Visavadar by-election again and the BJP has gone mad. The BJP wants to send us a message that they are in contact with our MLAs. But the people are watching it all. Umesh Makwana and the BJP are trying to damage the AAP. I challenge Umesh Makwana and the BJP: if you have guts, Umesh Makwana, resign from the Botad Assembly seat and fight from the BJP ticket. AAP will also contest from the Botad seat and will show you by winning the seat,” charged Isudan Gadhvi.
On June 19, 2025, AAP candidate Gopal Italia won the Visavadar by-election with a margin of over 17,554 votes against BJP’s Kirit Patel, retaining the seat, which was vacated after former MLA Bhupat Bhayani resigned and joined the BJP in 2023. One more resignation of an AAP MLA comes as a party spoiler.
Learning from the Visavadar re-election, AAP has played smart in Botad. Before Umesh Makwana quit the party, AAP suspended Makwana for five years. Therefore, the seat is vacated by the AAP MLA by being in the party. It means the seat belongs to AAP, which they will fill in the coming days. By-election won’t happen in Botad after Makwana resigns from the party posts.
