Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday resigned from the Congress party.
In his resignation letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Singh launched a sharp attack at Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and former party’s state in-charge Harish Rawat.
“Sidhu’s only claim to fame was that he would abuse me and my government…he was patronised by Rahul and Priyanka, while you chose to turn a blind eye to shenanigans of this gentleman who was aided and abetted by Harish Rawat, perhaps most dubious individual,” he said in the letter.
The veteran leader also announced the name of the new political party – Punjab Lok Congress.
Earlier this month, Singh had said that he will launch his own political party and that he was open to a seat-sharing deal with BJP in the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls if ongoing “farmers’ protest is resolved in their interest”.
“The battle for Punjab’s future is on. Will soon announce the launch of my own political party to serve the interests of Punjab & its people, including our farmers who’ve been fighting for their survival for over a year,” the former Punjab CM’s media advisor, Raveen Thukral said, quoting him.
“I will not rest till I can secure the future of my people and my state. Punjab needs political stability and protection from internal & external threats. I promise my people I will do what it takes to ensure its peace and security, which is today at stake,” he added.
Singh had stepped down as chief minister of Punjab on September 18 after accusing the Congress party of humiliating him.
Last month, the veteran leader had said he had no intention of continuing in the Congress, which he said was going downhill with senior leaders being completely sidelined.