Jyotiraditya Scindia resigns from Congress; Sonia expels him for anti-party activities

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 10

In fast-paced political developments plunging the Congress into a crisis, former MP Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the party’s primary membership after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier on Tuesday signalling his entry into the BJP.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi immediately approved the expulsion of Scindia for anti-party activities.

In a statement, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said, “The Congress president has approved the expulsion of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the Indian National Congress with immediate effect for anti-party activities.”

Earlier, Scindia sent in his resignation letter to Gandhi saying “it is time for me to move on”.

He said, “Having been a primary member of the Congress party for the last 18 years it is now time for me to move on. I am rendering my resignation from primary membership of the Congress and as you well know this is a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year.”

The former Congress leader added that while his aim and purpose remained the same as it had always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of his state and country, “he believes he is unable to do this anymore within this party”.

In the resignation letter dated March 9 but received at the Congress headquarters at 12.20 pm on March 10, Scindia said, “To reflect and realise the aspirations of my people and workers I believe it is best that I now look ahead at a fresh start.”

The former MP also thanked Sonia Gandhi and his other former Congress colleagues for “providing me with a platform to have served the nation”.

Scindia posted the letter on Twitter.