The Aam Aadmi Party has faced a political setback in Gujarat after Raju Karpada resigned as president of the party’s farmer wing.
Karpada submitted a formal resignation letter to Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, stating that he was stepping down from all his posts and responsibilities in the party with effect from 11 February 2026. In the letter, he cited personal reasons for his decision and said he was unable to continue fulfilling his current responsibilities. He expressed gratitude for the opportunities, respect and support extended to him by the party and requested that his resignation be accepted.
Party sources said Karpada had been unhappy for some time with senior party leader Gopal Italia. While the resignation letter does not directly mention this dissatisfaction, it is being discussed in political circles as a contributing factor.
Karpada had been active within the party for a prolonged period and was regarded as a prominent face of the farmer wing in the Saurashtra region. His resignation comes at a time when the party had been attempting to strengthen its organisational base in the region. His departure is seen as having implications for the party’s organisational position in Saurashtra.
Following his resignation, Karpada shared a post on social media platform Facebook describing his decision as difficult and stating that it might surprise many people. He wrote that he had given significant time and priority to the party, including time that could have been devoted to his family. He stated that circumstances had led him to take the decision.
In the same post, he apologised if any of his actions or words had hurt anyone’s sentiments. He thanked the national and state leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party, as well as his colleagues and farmers who had supported him. He clarified that his resignation was not motivated by personal enmity but was taken in view of prevailing circumstances.
Karpada joined the Aam Aadmi Party during 2021–22 and contested the 2022 Assembly election from the Surendranagar constituency. The party did not secure victory in that election, but Karpada came to be recognised as a grassroots leader.
He had earlier been in discussion in connection with a stone-pelting incident during an Aam Aadmi Party meeting in Botad, where a clash occurred between police and farmers. Following the incident, police registered cases against a total of 85 individuals, and the names of Aam Aadmi Party leaders Raju Karpada and Praveen Ram surfaced in the matter.
On 16 October 2025, police arrested Karpada when he was preparing to begin an indefinite hunger strike at the party office in Ahmedabad against alleged atrocities on farmers. The party described the arrest at the time as an action to suppress the voice of farmers.
