US EDITION
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Senior Congress leaders quit in Jharkhand

Several Congress politicians today resigned from the party to protest against the expulsion of three senior leaders, Sharad Pawar, P A Sangma and Tariq Anwar.

The politicians who tendered their resignation belonged to the party's minority cell and the Seva Dal.

They said it was unfortunate that the party had failed to accept what was good for it. "Those not born in India must not be allowed to become President, vice-president or prime minister," a spokesperson said.

In a statement, Jharkhand Region Congress minority cell chief Nesar Alam said Sonia Gandhi should have herself announced that she would not be in the race for the prime ministership.

Describing as "unconstitutional and undemocratic" the expulsion of the three leaders for raising an issue that is of importance to the country, he said, "This act of expulsion by a few opportunist people in the Congress will have an adverse impact on its poll prospects."

Prominent among the 25 Congressmen who resigned are Jharkhand Regional Congress minority cell vice-president Najmul Hodda, general secretary Abdul Aziz, Ranchi District Congress Seva Dal chief Tuhin Kumar Bhattacharya, Seva Dal regional unit convenor Kalimuddin, regional minority cell organising secretary Anil Tirkey and town Congress Seva Dal president Dilip Kumar Singh.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report