Senior Cong leader quits party, politics

Hyderabad, Mar 21 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) General Secretary D Nagendar today resigned from the party and announced his decision to quit politics.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Nagendar said he had sent his resignation letter to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and APCC President K Keshava Rao this morning.

Claiming that he had decided to quit politics because of ''increasing selfishness'' among politicians, Mr Nagendar said ''hardworking politicians'' were not getting enough opportunities in the present political arena.

However, party sources said the leader was upset after the party denied him ticket in the Legislative Council election in the state.

During the 2004 assembly elections too, the Congress leader had resigned from the party following denial of party ticket and joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He won the election as a TDP candidate.

Later, he resigned from the TDP and his MLA seat, rejoined the Congress and contested the by-election unsuccessfully.

UNI