Shaktisinh Gohil Resigns as Gujarat Congress Chief After Bypoll Defeats

Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil stepped down from his post on Monday, June 23, 2025, taking moral responsibility for the party’s defeat in the recent bypolls for Kadi and Visavadar Assembly seats.

In the Visavadar constituency, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Italia secured victory, while BJP candidate Rajendra Chavda won the Kadi seat. Congress candidates performed poorly in both constituencies.

Gohil Takes Responsibility for Party’s Defeat

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Gohil announced his resignation, stating, “Since the bypoll results were not as per our expectations, I have taken the moral responsibility for my party’s defeat and resigned as the president of Gujarat Congress. I have already mailed my resignation letter to our national president Mallikarjun Kharge.”

A member of the Rajya Sabha, Shaktisinh Gohil had been appointed as the Gujarat Congress President in June 2023, ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Bypoll Results in Detail

In Visavadar, located in Junagadh district, AAP’s Gopal Italia defeated BJP’s Kirit Patel by a margin of 17,554 votes.

In Kadi, a Scheduled Caste reserved constituency in Mehsana district, BJP’s Rajendra Chavda won by 39,452 votes against Congress’ Ramesh Chavda.

Mr. Rajendra Chavda secured 99,742 votes, while Mr. Ramesh Chavda managed 60,290 votes after all 22 rounds of counting concluded.

Congress Appoints Interim State Chief

Following the defeat and Mr. Gohil’s resignation, the Congress party swiftly appointed Shailesh Parmar, MLA from Danilimda, as the interim Gujarat Congress chief. The high command is yet to announce a permanent replacement.

In his statement, Mr. Gohil said, “I accept full responsibility for not securing either seat in the bypolls. I have sent my resignation to the national president.”

He further added, “Even though we haven’t been in power for 30 years, our workers have shown unwavering commitment. I now return to being a dedicated worker of the Congress.”

Mr. Gohil emphasised that he made the decision without waiting for persuasion. “There is a tradition in the Congress of accepting moral responsibility. I follow that tradition with pride,” he said. “It would have been different if we had won at least one of the two seats.”

Organizational Changes and Internal Challenges

Shaktisinh Gohil also addressed recent organizational developments within Gujarat Congress.

He highlighted that the appointment of district presidents was done after consulting grassroots workers. “This is not about who is close to Shaktisinh Gohil, but about who aligns with the party’s vision,” he explained.

The Congress party had recently announced its city and district presidents on June 21, 20 days after its self-imposed May 31 deadline.

Many within the party believe that the delay in finalising the organization structure, combined with internal disagreements, contributed to the party’s underperformance in the bypolls.

The newly appointed district leadership includes 10 former MLAs and one former MP, in what was seen as an attempt to revive the party at the grassroots level.

Shaktisinh Gohil’s Background and Political Journey

Shaktisinh Gohil belongs to a royal family and is the son of Harishchandra Ranjitsinh Gohil, the sixth king of Limda State (Hanubhana). His grandfather, Ranjitsinhji, became an MLA from the Gadhada seat in 1967 as an independent candidate.

Born on April 4, 1960, in Limda village, Bhavnagar, Gohil completed his early education at a government school in Surendranagar, followed by studies at an Arya Samaj Gurukul in Songadh.

He pursued a BSc in Chemistry from Sir P.P. Institute, Bhavnagar, and later obtained an LLB, Diploma in Journalism, and LLM from Saurashtra University, Rajkot.

During his student years, he contested two district panchayat elections and became an MLA while still studying. Out of his four brothers and two sisters, one brother has passed away.

Although his family generally stays away from active politics, they offer support behind the scenes.

Political Career Highlights

Mr. Gohil started his political journey in 1986 as President of the Bhavnagar District Youth Congress and became General Secretary of the Gujarat State Youth Congress in 1989.

He went on to become vice-president of the Bhavnagar District Panchayat. His association with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) began in 1990, marking the start of his political rise.

Recognised for his sharp intellect, communication skills, and technical knowledge, Gohil became the youngest minister in the history of the Gujarat cabinet at age 32.

Between 1991 and 1995, he handled key portfolios such as Education, Health, and Finance.

A five-time MLA, he served in the Gujarat Assembly from 1990 to 1995, 1995 to 1998, 2007 to 2012, 2014, and 2017 to 2020. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2020.

Known for his deep understanding of policy and dedication to public service, Shaktisinh Gohil’s resignation is seen by many as a rare example of political accountability in Indian politics.