Another setback for Congress as ex-Minister Ashwani Kumar quits party
In another setback for Congress, former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar resigned from the party on Tuesday. Kumar was reportedly upset over being sidelined during campaigning for the Punjab polls. In his resignation letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Kumar wrote, "...in the present circumstances and consistent with my dignity, I can best subserve larger national cause outside the party fold."
Why does this story matter?
Kumar's exit came as a shock to many since he was considered to be a staunch loyalist of Sonia Gandhi. He had also defended her when the dissenting group of senior Congress leaders--dubbed G-23--wrote to her in August 2020, calling for sweeping changes in the party. However, Kumar is not alone, many prominent Congress leaders have quit the party in the last two years.
Will proactively pursue public causes: Kumar
In his resignation letter, Kumar further wrote he is ending his 46-year long association with the party and hopes "to proactively pursue public causes inspired by the idea of transformative leadership, based on the dignitarian promise of a liberal democracy envisioned by our freedom fighters."
'My shoulders weren't strong enough to carry weight of indifference'
Speaking to news agency ANI, Kumar said it was a painful decision to leave the Congress. "I thought long and hard, and realized the way internal processes of Congress are in place today I couldn't continue any longer consistent with my dignity and self-esteem," Kumar said. "I thought my shoulders weren't strong enough to carry the weight of indifference," he added.
Congress is not the party that it was: Kumar
He further said, "Congress is not the party that it was," adding that the party lacks "a transformative and inspiring leadership to lead." "I have neither quit politics nor public service, I will continue to discharge my obligations to the nation," Kumar said.
Kumar denies joining BJP
Kumar denied the possibility of him joining the BJP. "I have not given it a thought. I have not met anyone in the BJP. There is no decision as yet. I may not even join any party," Kumar told NDTV. He further said Congress "doesn't seem to reflect the mood of the nation," and he only sees the party "going downhill."
Who is Ashwani Kumar?
Ashwani Kumar (69) was one of the youngest Additional Solicitor General of India. He was also a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and held several portfolios in the second term of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. He was the Minister of Law and Justice from October 2012-May 2013. He had also served as a junior minister in multiple ministries between 2011-2013.
Portfolios under Kumar during UPA-II
Kumar served as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Planning; Ministry of Science and Technology; and Ministry of Earth Sciences from January 2011 to May 2013. He was also the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs from January to July 2011.
Several prominent leaders have left the party recently
Kumar makes the second biggest exit from Congress in Punjab after ex-Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Several young leaders, including Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, Sushmita Dev, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Laliteshpati Tripathi have left Congress in the last two years. The party had also lost many regional stalwarts, such as former Goa CM Luizinho Falerio, former Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma, and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
