Former MP and Ex-PPCC president Sunil Jakhar, on Saturday gave a huge jolt to the party as he announced his decision to quit the Congress party on his Facebook handle, coming LIVE. He was upset with the party over action against his alleged anti-party activities. His announcement came amidst party’s mega ‘Chintan Shivir’ going on in Rajasthan. He said that the Congress leaders “sitting in Delhi ruined the party in Punjab”, blaming Ambika Soni’s statement on the “repercussions of having a Hindu CM in Punjab” for “the disastrous showing” of the party in the recent assembly elections.
In an emotional outburst to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he said “Don’t drift from your ideology,” adding, “an attempt was also made ‘to present the Congress as a poor BSP’ in the state.” During his ‘Dil Ki Baat’ on Facebook live, he lashed out at Harish Chaudhary, former state in-charge Harish Rawat and senior leader Tariq Anwar over their political activities and interference in Punjab during the assembly elections.
However, Jakhar has praised Rahul Gandhi, calling him “a good person”, and urged the 51-year-old to take the reins of the party and “distance himself from chaploos log (sycophants)”.
In the end of his Facebook LIVE, he said “Good luck and goodbye Congress.”
Before going live on Facebook, he had removed all party references from his social media handles He removed the Congress from his Twitter bio, and also replaced the party flag as the background image of his Twitter account with the Tricolour. Jakhar had been upset with the Congress leadership ever since the party took action against him for alleged anti-party activities. The party decided to remove Jakhar from all party posts for two years a fortnight ago on the recommendation of the disciplinary action committee. The Congress leader had since then been considering his political options.
