New Delhi, Feb 15 (Agency) Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on Tuesday quit the Congress after 46 years of association with the party, saying he wants to serve national causes “outside the party fold”. In a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the Delhi-born former Rajya Sabha member said he could no more remain with the grand old party “in the present circumstances and consistent with my dignity”. “Having given my thoughtful consideration to the matter, I have concluded that in the present circumstances and consistent with my dignity, I can best subserve larger national causes outside the party fold,” he said in his brief letter.
“I am accordingly quitting the party after a long association of 46 years and hope to proactively pursue public causes inspired by the idea of transformative leadership, based on the dignitarian promise of a liberal democracy envisioned by our freedom fighters,” he said. Kumar has reportedly been unhappy with the Congress leadership for failing to revive the party and the manner in which former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh was eased out. His resignation comes amid assembly elections in five states including just ahead of balloting in Punjab, which he represented in the Rajya Sabha. Kumar was appointed in 1991 — at age 37 — as one of the youngest Additional Solicitor Generals of India.