Cong. makes light of G-23 leader Sibal’s resignation
Congress says many leaders are joining the party in various states
In a major setback to the Congress party, senior leader Kapil Sibal has quit the party and filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from Uttar Pradesh in the coming Rajya Sabha elections.
He is supported by the Samajwadi Party, which is expected to get three Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh.
Mr Sibal arrived in Lucknow Wednesday morning and before filing his nomination papers as an Independent candidate met senior Samajwadi Party leaders, including party president Akhilesh Yadav. Mr Yadav and other SP leaders were present when Mr Sibal filed his nomination papers.
Speaking to the media after filing his nomination, Mr Sibal said: “I have filed my nomination as an Independent candidate. I have always wanted to be an independent voice in the country. We (the Opposition) want to create an alliance so we can oppose the
(Narendra) Modi government.”
Mr Sibal then added: “I was a Congress leader. But not anymore. I had resigned from the Congress on May 16. I will not say anything about the Congress… It is not appropriate for me to say anything. It’s not easy to leave a relationship of 3031 years.”
After Mr Sibal filed his nomination, Mr Akhilesh Yadav said: “Kapil Sibal is a senior lawyer. He has presented his opinions well in Parliament. We hope he will present the opinions of both the SP as well as himself.”
Insiders claim that the Congress high command was in touch with Mr Sibal after his resignation
on May 16, and trying to ensure that the matter could be resolved. Mr Sibal had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of his predicament, and reluctance to continue within the party.
AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also met Mr Sibal, and sources said it was a “gracious and frank” meeting about the future of the Congress. But after several overtures, Mr Sibal had made up his mind and the parting was pleasant.
Mr Sibal was one of the key voices in the G-23 change seekers’ group. He was the first one to categorically state that the Gandhis should hand over the leadership and come in a mentoring role for the party.
The Congress sought to put up a brave face after Sibal quit the party, saying its space is large in the national polity and many leaders joining the grand old party in various states is not being taken note of.
AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal said eight former MLAs joined the party in Haryana two days ago, and lamented that such fresh developments were not getting prominence.
Venugopal said Sibal, who filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha as an independent supported by the Samajwadi Party from Uttar Pradesh today, has not said anything against the Congress ideology in his resignation letter.