The opposition Congress in Tripura on Monday suffered a jolt when senior party leader and former minister Ratan Lal Ghosh quit the party. "I have not been included in the newly constituted Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and have not got any important party post since 1993. I had served the party for last 40 years but a lobby within the party is active against me. So, I have decided to quit the party," Ghosh told reporters here.

Ghosh, who was a minister in the Samir Ranjan Barman government in 1992, said, "as an ardent and humble Congressman I have experienced that there is no recognition of a hardworking person in the party."

"I have tendered my resignation even from the primary membership of Congress and sent it to Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president Surajit Dutta," he said.

On being asked about joining any other political party, Ghosh smiled and said "I will announce my next step within next few days."

Some of Ghosh's followers like Khayerpur Block Congress president Ranjit Majumder, Mahila Block Congress president of Khayerpur in West Tripura district, Pratibha Chakraborty  and general secretary of PCC’s, Schedule Tribe cell, Bishurai Debbarma have also quit the party along with Ghosh.