Punjab: Sulking Congress veteran Sunil Jakhar bids goodbye to party
What's the story
Congress's former Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar sent shockwaves across the grand old party on Saturday by announcing his resignation from the party in a Facebook Live post. The resignation came as the Congress's brainstorming event, Chintan Shivir, reached its second day in Rajasthan's Udaipur. Jakhar was reportedly enraged by the Congress's response to his anti-party actions.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Jakhar's decision adds to Congress's woes in Punjab. It is already experiencing a tussle between leaders like Navjot Singh Sidhu and Charanjit Singh Channi ever since Amarinder Singh resigned as Punjab's CM and subsequently quit Congress. His resignation underlines how much overhauling Congress needs to emerge as a serious challenger to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls.
Statement
Some leaders sitting in Delhi ruined the party: Jakhar
The 68-year-old Congress has also blamed Ambika Soni for the party's terrible Punjab election results in a 35-minute Facebook Live session. To recall, Soni had earlier spoken about the "repercussions of having a Hindu chief minister in Punjab." Jakhar also slammed former state in-charge, Harish Rawat, for the party's poll debacle in the state.
Background
Party upset Jakhar by not choosing him as CM candidate
Earlier this year, the race for the chief ministerial candidate in Punjab Congress created a rift within the party. Jakhar, who was ousted from the race, had said that he was upset because he was allegedly rejected for being a Hindu. Later, he faced disciplinary action which created conflict between him and the then probable candidates for the CM post, including Sindhu and Channi.
Quote
Jakhar praises Rahul Gandhi, hits out at 'sycophants '
Jakhar, however, praised former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, calling him "a good person." He further asked Gandhi to take control of the party and "stay away from the chaploos log (sycophants)." "Good luck and goodbye Congress," he said, concluding the Facebook Live session.