Chacko resigns from Cong, blames top leaders

In a setback to the Congress ahead of Kerala Assembly elections, senior leader P.C. Chacko on Wednesday announced his resignation from the party, alleging that groupism is being practised by top leaders of the Congress.

“I have quit Congress and sent my resignation to party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi. I had been deliberating upon this decision for the past many days. I come from Kerala where there’s no Congress party as such. There are 2 parties—Congress (I) and Congress (A). It’s a coordination committee of 2 parties functioning as KPCC,” Chacko said at a press conference here.

“Kerala is facing a crucial election. People want Congress to come back but there’s groupism practiced by top leaders of Congress. I have been arguing with a high command that this should be ended. But the high command is also agreeing to the proposal given by both groups,” he said.

Chacko is a former Member of Parliament from Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. The election for 140-member Kerala Assembly will be held on April 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had announced. For Assembly poll 2021, the number of polling booths in Kerala has been extended from 21,498 to 40,771. The counting of votes will be held on May 2. The tenure of the 14th Kerala legislative assembly will come to an end on June 1, 2021. (ANI)

Reacting to the development, Congress MP Hibi Eden said that Chacko’s decision to resign was not wise at a crucial juncture when the is facing an important election. “He (PC Chacko) is a very senior Congress leader who has been given ample opportunities by the central leadership. Chacko was part of the highest decision-making body of Congress which is the working committee. I don’t think it was a wise decision at this crucial juncture where Congress is going into an important election,” Eden told ANI.