Kapil Sibal, a senior Congress leader who announced his resignation on Wednesday, said it was “always difficult to move on,” but that “everyone has to think about themselves” at some time.
“I figured it was past time for me to go on and be a more independent voice in the legislature. I didn’t want to be clinging to any political party’s coattails,” NDTV quoted Kapil Sibal as saying.
“When you’ve been a member of a political party for a long time and are committed to its ideas, it’s always difficult to leave. Every individual must decide for himself whether it is time to try something new.”
He stated that he will seek to unite all political parties in order to defeat the BJP in the national election in 2024. Is it, however, possible to form a coalition of opposition without the Congress?
“We’ll aim to bring everyone together on one platform. All major parties are represented. Isn’t Congress a political party, too? ” Mr Sibal was the one who responded.
The former Union Minister announced today that he had resigned from the Congress a week ago, on May 16, a day after the party’s “Chintan Shivir,” or brainstorming meeting, to examine the party’s revival in the wake of major election losses and internal issues.
He made the declaration shortly after registering his nomination for the Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate with the support of the Samajwadi Party.
“It was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. I simply didn’t want it to turn into a tamasha. I’m astonished it hasn’t been released before now “Mr. Sibal made a statement.
“It was time for me to go on and be an independent voice in parliament, so I decided to do so. I met Akhilesh Yadav and informed him I wanted to run as an independent candidate rather than as a member of a political party,” he stated.
In a letter to Sonia Gandhi two years ago, Mr Sibal was the driving force behind the “G-23,” a group of 23 dissenters who urged substantial organisational and leadership changes in the Congress.
The veteran had become increasingly vociferous and scathing about the Gandhis in recent months, even claiming that “the leadership is in cuckooland.”
When asked if his departure, along with others, had any impact, he responded yes “”I am not in it anymore,” he stated, referring to “dissenters” being coopted into party panels. The others are all my friends, and whether or not they are coopted, they will stay friends.”
He refused to comment on prospective withdrawals; he is the fifth high-profile politician to leave Congress this year.
He stated that he “didn’t want to join the party or any other political party” when asked why he approached the Samajwadi Party.
“Over my dead body, I said the BJP and no other political party,” he stated.
He went on to say: “There are no independent voices in parliament now. The party leadership always steers you in the right direction. If an MP does not have that option, you are undermining democracy.”
(With inputs from NDTV)
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
