OBC leader and rebel Congress MLA from Radhanpur, Alpesh Thakor on Friday resigned as legislator in the Gujarat Assembly after cross-voting in favour of the BJP candidates for the Rajya Sabha by-polls on two seats.

Thakor along with his aide Dhavalsinh Jhala, who is also an MLA from Bayad in North Gujarat quit immediately after casting their votes earlier in the day. They duo had already quit from all posts in the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. “I have voted for an honest national leadership. I listened to my conscience. We faced repeated insult from the people in Congress. Considering this, I have resigned as Congress MLA,” Thakor told mediapersons.

The bypolls to Rajya Sabha had turned dramatic after Congress - fearing cross-voting by its MLAs - had on Wednesday moved its MLAs away to a safe location out of the reach of the BJP. But when the voting was conducted on Friday, BJP candidates, S Jaishankar and Jugalji Thakor got 105 votes, including the two votes from the Congress rebels.

Read more:Fearing cross-voting, Gujarat Congress shifts its MLAs to Mount Abu

Congress, however, managed to get 69 votes out of its total strength of 71 in the State Assembly. Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani too voted in favour of Congress.

The Congress had fielded Chandrika Chudasama and Gaurav Pandya, but going by the strength and voting under on two seperate ballots, the victory of the BJP candidates is almost certain. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Congress has appealed to the Election Commission demanding cancellation of the votes of Thakor and Jhala and revoke anti-defection law.

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