Jaffer Sharief threatens to quit Congress

Bangalore, Apr 25 (UNI) Protesting the denial of party ticket to his grandson in the next month's Assembly elections in Karnataka, former Railway Minister and Congress leader C K Jaffer Sharief today threatened to resign from the party.

The decision of the senior leader and one of the biggest names among leaders from the minority community, created ripples in the Congress, making a strong bid to regain power in the Southern State.

Despite the party accommodating his son-in-law from Raichur segment, Mr Sharief, a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest policy making body of the Congress, was bent upon getting a ticket for his grandson Rehman Sharief, but the Congress Election Committee (CEC) refused to heed his demand.

According to sources close to Mr Sharief, who was not available for comment, the disgruntled leader was now contemplating to join the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Mr Sharief, who enjoyed a 'cordial' relationship with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, had reportedly made up his mind to join the BSP and was ready to campaign extensively in the coming elections, BSP sources claimed.

Rattled by the sudden turn of events that might hit the Congress badly, party leaders, including General Secretary Digvijay Singh, rushed to the residence of Mr Sharief to urge him not to take any hasty decision.

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