Ignored BJP MLA quits assembly, party

Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Dhanraj Kella, who was denied ticket for the coming Gujarat elections, resigned on Tuesday from the state assembly and from the party.

Kella, legislator from Wadhwan constituency, is the first rebel member to resign from the BJP and as a legislator after distribution of tickets. He submitted his resignation to Speaker Mangaldas Patel.

Last week, six BJP rebels namely Dhirubhai Gajera, Bavku Unghad, Bechar Bhadani, Balu Tanti, Narendrasinh Jadeja and Gopal Bhuva had resigned as legislators and from the party.

"I will be fighting elections from the Wadhwan constituency on the ticket of Uma Bharti's Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party or as an independent candidate," Kella told media persons after submitting his resignation.

Rebellion is brewing in other areas of the state also. Report from Surat said large number of supporters of C R Patil, a ticket aspirant, had gathered outside his office to protest against his omission as a BJP candidate.