Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 30: Former Chief Minister and nine-time MP Giridhar Gamang Saturday put all speculation to rest by tendering his resignation from the Congress party.
“I have resigned from the primary membership of the Congress with immediate effect. I have taken the decision as I have been repeatedly humiliated and insulted by the party leadership since 1999,” said Gamang, adding that he has sent his resignation letter to party president Sonia Gandhi.
Gamang had been asked by the Congress chief whip to vote against the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government during the no-confidence motion against it April 17, 1999, and had done so. The Vajpayee government had lost the no-confidence motion by a single vote.
“Since 1999, I have been humiliated in public for bringing down the Vajpayee government with a single vote of mine. Till today, neither my party, nor my leaders have come out with the truth to protect me from public criticism, which is painful for me. I feel that my loyalty to the party has turned into a liability for the party,” the tribal leader said in his resignation letter.
“It was not my vote which turned the tables on the NDA government, but the cross voting of Saifuddin Soz of National Conference Party who had gone against the whip of his party,” Gamang clarified.
Asked to comment on reports of his joining BJP, Gamang asked, “Why would a party whose Prime Minister was unseated by a vote cast by me take me into its fold?”
“I have resigned from Congress, not to rejoin the Congress or join other political party. But…if any party invites me …I may consider,” he said.
However, the former Chief Minister’s son, Sishir Gamang, had said earlier that his father would join a national party. This speculation was fuelled by Giridhar Gamang’s meeting with Union minister Jual Oram recently.
Congress state unit president Prasad Harichandan said Gamang had resigned from the party under pressure. “The Congress never humiliated him. He got elected to the Lok Sabha on nine occasions and also served twice as Union minister,” Harichandan said. It is hard to believe that he resigned because of a party decision taken way back in 1999, he said.
Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Bhakta Das also said the tribal leader might have taken the decision under pressure.BJP spokesperson Suresh Pujari said if a senior leader like Gamang had resigned from the primary membership of the Congress after so many years of service, one has to realise how hurt he might have been. “He has been in touch with us socially but has not shown any intention of joining the BJP. If an offer comes from his side, the party may take a considerate decision,” Pujari said.
