Ex-Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar's outburst in parting shot: ‘Good luck…’

Sunil Jakhar was once backed by Punjab MLAs as the CM candidate.

Published on: May 14, 2022, 12:31:40 IST

By HT News Desk | Reported by Navneet Sharma | Edited by Swati Bhasin

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday dropped a big bombshell on the party as he announced his decision to quit on Facebook. His announcement came as the party's mega brainstorming conclave - 'Chintan Shivir' - entered the second day in Rajasthan. He was upset with the party over action against his alleged anti-party activities.

Sunil Jakhar went live on Facebook to announce his big decision.  (Facebook )

Congress leaders “sitting in Delhi ruined the party in Punjab”, the 68-year-old leader said, and blamed Ambika Soni’s statement on the “repercussions of having a Hindu chief minister in Punjab” for “the disastrous showing” of the party in the February-March state polls.

An attempt was also made “to present the Congress as the BSP (Mayawati's party) in the state”, the veteran said. “Don’t drift from your ideology,” he told Congress president Sonia Gandhi in an emotional outburst.

Among other leaders he targeted during his ‘Dil Ki Baat’ Facebook live message were Harish Chaudhary, former state in-charge Harish Rawat and Tariq Anwar.

Praising Rahul Gandhi, Jakhar called him “a good person”, and urged the 51-year-old to take the reins of the party in his hands and “distance yourself from chaploos log (sycophants)”. "Good luck and goodbye Congress," he winded up saying.

Shortly before going live on Facebook, he had removed all party references from his social media handles He removed the Congress mention from his Twitter bio, and also replaced the party flag as the background image of his Twitter account with the Tricolour.

The first reactions came in from Navjot Singh Sidhu: “The congress should not loose #sunilkjakhar …. Is an asset worth his weight in gold …. Any differences can be resolved on the table. (sic)”

Jakhar's announcement came as the Gandhis hold the Congress’s Chintan Shivir in Udaipur with an eye on 2024 polls. Hundreds of Congress members have gathered to attend the three-day conclave where the party is holding talks amid calls for revamp after a poll drubbing in the recent round of state elections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.