Days after AAP's Visavadar bypoll win, party MLA suspended for 5 years

Days after AAP won the Visavadar by-election in Gujarat, the party suspended Umesh Makwana for five years, sparking a crisis within the party's state unit. Earlier in the day, Makwana resigned from his party's whip and national-level roles, saying AAP was moving away from its core principles. However, he did not quit the party or his MLA post.

Gujarat AAP chief Isudan Gadhvi announced Makwana’s suspension, accusing him of working against the party. He said Makwana faced several complaints from his area, including corruption, and that he was warned many times.

He also claimed that the BJP was behind Makwana’s actions, saying, “The BJP is doing dirty politics and pushing him to go against AAP.”

Gadhvi said he asked Makhwana to resign as MLA and face re-election, saying the public would decide his fate.

However, Makwana hit back, saying Gadhvi had no right to suspend him and that only AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal could do so. He accused some AAP leaders in Gujarat of being BJP agents who pressured him to resign.

“They couldn’t force me out, so they suspended me. I will soon reveal the truth with proof. I have always spoken for the people,” he said.

Even though AAP has suspended him, Makwana remains an MLA. According to Assembly rules, unless he resigns or is disqualified, he will keep his Botad seat.

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