Congress leader Kailash Gorantyal quits party

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee vice president Kailash Gorantyal on Tuesday resigned from the primary membership of the party.

He would be joining the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the former MLA had said two days ago.

In a resignation letter addressed to state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, Gorantyal cited "personal reasons" for his decision. "I have been a dedicated worker of the Indian National Congress for the past 30-35 years. However, due to personal reasons, I am unable to continue working for the party," he wrote.


Gorantyal had told reporters earlier that he had met BJP leaders Raosaheb Danve, Narayan Kuche and Babanrao Lonikar. "I will join the Bharatiya Janata Party in two to three days in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," he had said.

Gorantyal lost his Jalna assembly seat to Shiv Sena candidate Arjun Khotkar in the 2024 state elections.

Following the defeat, he had openly criticized the Congress leadership for delaying the announcement of his candidacy and failing to extend adequate support to his campaign.

He had been elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1999, 2009 and 2019.