Pravin Togadia, who has been with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad for over three decades, on Saturday announced he was quitting the outfit and said he would go on an indefinite fast from Tuesday to push the Hindutva cause.
The veteran leader, who served as the VHP international working president since December 2011, announced his decision in a press conference after his nominee to the post of international president of the VHP was defeated in voting, which were the VHP's first elections in over five decades.
"I am not in the VHP anymore. I was in it for 32 years. For the welfare of Hindus, I left my home and my lucrative medical practice. I will continue to work for the welfare of Hindus. Hindus first is the mission of my life and from Tuesday, I will go on an indefinite fast in Ahmedabad for fulfilling the long-standing demands of Hindus," he said.
Former Himachal Pradesh governor V.S. Kokje was on Saturday elected the VHP's international president.
Kokje got 131 votes and defeated incumbent Raghava Reddy who mustered 60 votes. For the election, which was held in Gurugram, 192 delegates of the VHP were eligible to vote. Togadia, who batted for Reddy, however, alleged irregularities in the exercise.
Togadia has of late been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership.
Nearly two weeks ago, Togadia claimed an 'undeclared emergency' existed in the country after the government announced plans to modify guidelines for accreditation of journalists, which were hastily dropped. Togadia was considered to be an ally of Narendra Modi before the latter became chief minister of Gujarat, though the duo later fell out.