Dropped from Cabinet, Gujarat MP Kundariya says he respects party's decision, resigns

Rajkot: Rajkot MP Mohanbhai Kundariya, who was on Tuesday dropped from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ministerial council, said he respects party’s decision and has resigned as Minister of State for Agriculture. “I respect party’s decision. The party (BJP) asked me to resign and I did so from the post of Minister of State for Agriculture,” Kundariya told PTI over phone from Delhi after being dropped from the Modi government. [caption id=“attachment_2875218” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] BJP leader and former MoS Mohanbhai Kundariya. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] Kundariya, a five-time MLA from Tankara constituency, was given Lok Sabha ticket in the 2014 general elections. He defeated sitting Congress MP Kunvarji Bavaliya to reserve a berth in Parliament. The first time MP was later inducted into the Modi government in 2014 as an MoS. “The party has given a lot to me since 1983, when I was made president of taluka panchayat. The party gave me ticket for state Assembly as well for Parliament (polls),” he said. Kundariya said he was satisfied with the job he has done as a minister. “I am satisfied that I have performed my duty honestly and tried to give my best as MoS for Agriculture. The party has given me beyond my expectation, I do not have any disrespect for the party. I did my best as a minister and will continue to serve people as an MP,” he said. He said he was ready to shoulder any responsibility given by the party in future. Kundariya also conveyed his best wishes to Purshottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandaviya, who have been included in the Union Council of Ministers. A total of 19 MPs today joined the government, while five ministers were dropped in the second expansion and reshuffle by Modi in a little over two years since he took over as Prime Minister.