Asha Patel is a first time MLA and had turned out to be a giant killer after she defeated seven-time legislator and former minister Narayan Patel in Unjha constituency which also covers PM Modi's hometown of Vadnagar.

In a major setback to Congress in Gujarat ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Dr Asha Patel, a woman MLA from Mehsana district's Unjha constituency, resigned from the party and state Assembly on Saturday.

Patel is a first time MLA and had turned out to be a giant killer after she defeated seven-time legislator and former minister Narayan Patel in assembly elections held in December 2017. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hometown Vadnagar also falls under the Unjha constituency and BJP's loss on the seat was a huge embarrassment for the party.

In her resignation letter addressed to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Patel said that his leadership has failed and claimed that the party is only doing vote bank politics and dividing people on the caste lines.

She also hailed Modi government's initiative to provide 10% quota for poor from the general category.

Here is full text of Dr Asha Patel's resignation letter sent to Mr Gandhi:

(Reported by Chintan Acharya)