In a stunning political twist, Kailash Gorantyal, vice president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, resigned from the Congress on July 29, 2025, and announced his defection to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The former MLA, who served the Congress for over three decades, cited “personal reasons” in his resignation letter to state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, ending his long-standing allegiance to the party.

Gorantyal, who lost the Jalna assembly seat to Shiv Sena’s Arjun Khotkar in the 2024 state elections, had publicly slammed the Congress leadership for delaying his candidacy announcement and providing inadequate campaign support. Days before his resignation, he met with BJP heavyweights Raosaheb Danve, Narayan Kuche, and Babanrao Lonikar, signaling his exit. “I will join the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis within days,” Gorantyal told reporters.

Having represented Jalna in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1999, 2009, and 2019, Gorantyal’s departure is a significant blow to Congress, highlighting internal rifts and boosting the BJP’s momentum in the state.

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