AHMEDABAD: Former Union Minister and senior Gujarat Congress leader Bharatsinh Solanki has decided to take a break from politics after a video with his girlfriend went viral on social media. The video showed Solanki’s wife Reshma Patel entering a room and thrashing the leader’s girlfriend. In the video, Solanki is seen pulling his wife away. However, the leader later claimed that he was estranged from his wife and had filed for a divorce. The video of Solanki and his girlfriend had surfaced last Friday.

As the video went viral, the Congress’ situation has worsened in Gujarat, ahead of the assembly polls later this year. Lately, Hardik Patel quitting the party and joining the BJP had posed a severe blow to the Congress. Soon after the video went viral, Solanki announced that the was taking a break from politics. He clarified that the decision is his own and he has not been prodded by the party leadership. He also levelled serious allegations against his wife. “She even contacted an exorcist to take my life. I may get married again if I divorce from her”, he said.

Carrying forward the legacy of Chacha Nehru ?🤔🙈
Gujarat congress leader #BharatSolankee caught red handed (with the girl half of his age). pic.twitter.com/Zyyl5MHq4r

— Adv. Dhaval Nakhva (@dhaval8456) June 1, 2022

Solanki married Reshma Patel in 1999. “We have not lived together for many years. I am seeking divorce because she had tried to harm me in the past to snatch my property. The court will hear my application for divorce on June 15," he alleged. The 68-year-old leader also said that he will marry again after getting the divorce. “It is obvious she is playing into the hands of those who want to harm me and the Congress in the upcoming polls. Opposing parties are interested in such issues because they want to take advantage by maligning my image as well as that of the Congress," he said.