JAMMU: Former two time Member Parliament (MP) from Udhampur-Kathua parliamentary Constituency Choudhary Lal Singh today quit the Congress party alleging that the former Union Minister Ghulam Nabu Azad ditched him during Lok Sabha polls as his name was almost finalized as candidate from the constituency by the high command.
Leveling serious allegations on former Union Minister and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Congress MP and former Health Minister of J&K, Choudhary Lal Singh announced his ‘quit’ from party.
“I am quitting Congress because of Ghulam Nabi Azad and now have decided to contest upcoming assembly elections from Basohli constituency of Kathua district, either Independent or after joining any other party,” Singh said while addressing a press conference along with his wife Kanta Andotra, who was also former Congress MLA from Basohli.
“Azad had ditched him”, he said, adding, “he (Azad) only is the person behind his decision to quit from the party. I’ll campaign against Azad and Congress in entire J&K in the next assembly polls and expose the real face of Azad before people.”
“I am quitting party on my own because I was feeling suffocated in Congress, especially after Azad ditched me on several occasions,” said Singh further accusing Azad for not only playing a vital role in cancellation of his ticket from Udhampur seat, but also manipulated things, when Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi assured him about MLC seat to him.
Singh further alleged that the humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha polls in recently concluded polls is only due to Azad and now results are in front the party and public.
Former MP, Lal Singh also disclosed that he will be contesting from Basohli, however, he didn’t disclose the future plans to join any national or regional political party. Meantime there are speculations that Lal Singh is soon joining PDP or BJP, but both the parties have not commented on the entry of Singh into their respective political organizations.
Pertinently, Ch Lal Singh had held Health Minister’s portfolio in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led Congress-PDP coalition Government from year 2002-2004, later he was elected as MP from Udhampur constituency in 2004 Lok Sabha polls and again in 2009 Lok Sabha polls, but in 2014 general elections, Congress replaced him with the then Union Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who lost the elections to first timer from BJP, Dr Jatinder Singh, now MoS in Modi led Government. (AGENCIES)
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