Ex-Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar resigns ahead of state polls

Tanwar shared his four-page resignation letter- addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi- on Twitter.

He alleged that "money, blackmail and pressure tactics" work in the party where hardworking people from non-political/humble backgrounds are overlooked.

He accused the party of being the "anti-thesis of democracy" and furthering dynasty politics.

He also said he had offered to resign several times before but Congress' top leadership convinced him otherwise.

Further, Tanwar wrote, "Numerous controversies are being hatched to eliminate those young leaders who have been groomed by Rahul Gandhi in the last one-and-a-half decade."

"Most victims of this conspiracy may not have the courage to stand up, but I think it's my moral and political duty to resist, oppose and expose this onslaught," he stated, adding Haryana was the "epitome" of this controversy.

In his resignation letter, Tanwar also talked about how decision-makers at the AICC can't win an election themselves, however, the ground soldiers, who stay in touch with the masses, are neglected.

He accused former AICC General Secretary In-charge Kamal Nath of being indifferent towards Haryana and Ghulam Nabi Azad of "playing the game and playing it dirty."

After being removed as Haryana Congress chief, Tanwar was replaced by Kumari Selja allegedly on former Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda's recommendation.

Tanwar said Congress in the state has turned into "Hooda Congress." He said the people "who had worked against the party's interests in the last five years had been given prominence over those who slogged to strengthen the opposition party in Haryana."

Tanwar also addressed corruption in ticket distribution for the upcoming Haryana polls, over which he, along with his supporters, had held a protest outside Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence in New Delhi last Sunday.

The elections are scheduled to be held in a single phase on October 21.

With just two weeks to go, this is a huge blow to the century-old party.