Vashisht quits Cong over denying ticket to son

Ujjain, Nov 7 (UNI) Senior Congress leader Mahavir Prasad Vashisht, a close confidante of Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, has resigned from the Congress to protest denial of ticket to his son from Ujjain South constituency.

Mr Vashisht, a former political adviser to Mr Singh, told reporters here today that he had resigned from the primary membership of the party and sent resignation letter yesterday to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and state incharge General Secretary V Narayansami.

A Congress member for the last five decades, Mr Vashisht won from the Ujjain South constituency in 1980 and 1985 but lost in 1993 election. He was also the Chairman of Ujjain Central Cooperative Bank for several years.

Alleging irregularity in distribution of ticket for the Assembly polls in Mahdya Pradesh, he said his son Rajendra Vashisht, who was denied Congress ticket, would file nomination from Ujjain South constituency as an Independent candidate.

UNI XC-BDG SP KK CS1357