Scindia quits Congress amid turmoil in Madhya Pradesh

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the party on Tuesday, stating that “it is time to move on.”

“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 tendering my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress and as you well know this is a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year,” said Scindia in his resignation letter submitted to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi. The resignation letter is dated March 9.

Jyotiraditya Scindia’s office staff were seen leaving after handing over a copy of his resignation at Sonia Gandhi’s residence.

The disgruntled Congress leader said that his aim has always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of his state and country.

“While my aim and purpose remain the same as it has always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of my state and country. I believe I am unable to do this anymore within this party,” he said.

Scindia asserted that time has come to look ahead at a fresh start. “To reflect and realise the aspirations of my people and my workers. I believe it is best that now look ahead at a fresh start. I would like to thank you and through you all my party colleagues for providing me with a platform to have served the nation,” he added.

After Scindia quit, resignations from his Congress MLAs started pouring in.

At least 19 Congress MLAs close to Scindia have submited their resignations to the Speaker N.P. Prajapati. They have resigned from the primary membership of the Congress.

Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday approved the expulsion of Jyotiraditya Scindia for “anti-party activities”. “Congress President has approved the expulsion of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the Indian National Congress with immediate effect for anti-party activities,” read a statement issued by KC Venugopal, General Secretary, All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Earlier in the day, Scindia along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence. The meeting lasted for more than an hour. According to sources, all the formalities for Scindia joining the BJP have been completed. Scindia will formally join the BJP in the presence of party president J.P. Nadda and Shah at the party headquarters on Tuesday evening, sources said.

The development comes a day after Congress MLAs loyal to Scindia indicated that they may pull out from the Kamal Nath-led government and their mobile phones were found switched off on Monday.

In a late-night Cabinet meeting, around 20 Cabinet ministers in Madhya Pradesh tendered their resignation to Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The Chief Minister has accepted their resignations and is likely to reconstitute the cabinet.

Earlier, several Congress leaders, including Digvijaya Singh, had accused the BJP of horse-trading and conspiring to bring down the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

Congress has been witnessing an internal turf war in Madhya Pradesh since the party formed a government in the state.