Senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat on Wednesday withdrew his resignation and announced that he would continue working for the party.
Senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat on Wednesday withdrew his resignation and announced that he would continue working for the party.
Mr Kamat, a former union minister and five-time MP from Mumbai (north-east) had tendered his resignation from the party a fortnight ago, saying he was quitting active politics. However, sources said the party high command did not like Mr Kamat’s decision and told him to take back his resignation. The resignation of Mr Kamat, known as a Gandhi family loyalist, came as a surprise, especially at a time when the party has been going through its worst political crisis in history. They said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi even refused to meet Mr Kamat and informed him to continue with the party work.
“I had about two weeks ago sent my resignation as general secretary, All India Congress Committee, and from the Congress party purely for personal reasons, to concentrate on social service minus any party tag,” said the 61-year-old leader.
“However, during the last fortnight, a large number of senior party leaders tried to convince me to rethink my decision. My meeting with my party president Sonia Gandhi helped me to make up my mind that the Congress is the best platform to serve the people of this country. I will continue to serve under the leadership of hon’ble Congress president Ms Gandhi and hon’ble vice president Rahul Gandhi with the same charge of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu as informed to me Tuesday late night. I will be meeting the people of my in-charge states starting Thursday,” he said in a statement.
However, this is not the first time Mr Kamat has been miffed with the party. This time around, his decision to quit was linked with factionalism in the party; he was reportedly unhappy with Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam and AICC general secretary Mohan Prakash for sidelining him in party decisions related to the Mumbai unit. He had expressed his unhappiness on a few occasions and even refused to accept a ministerial berth under the Congress-led UPA government, terming it “low profile”.
According to party sources though, Mr Kamat has been given enough opportunities by the party and he should now help the party when it is facing a crisis. The Congress will be contesting BMC polls next year for which Mr Kamat is expected to support and participate, sources added.
