Veteran leader Jagdambika Pal quits Congress

New Delhi, March 7: In a major setback to the

party just a month before the Lok Sabha elections 2014, the veteran politician and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Jagdambika Pal on Friday quit the party, as it failed to give him "his due".

Last week, Pal said that he felt 'humiliated' and had dismissed speculation about his joining BJP, saying he would remain in the party "as of now".

"Neither would I join BJP nor would be seen at Modi's rally," Pal had told media.

He had expressed anguish over his continued "neglect" by the party leadership.

"For a long time, I had been in the forefront in organisational matters but in this last stage of my life I am denied of the required respect and so am feeling humiliated," he had said.

"During the 2009 Lok Sabha polls all the top Congress leaders, who had come for my campaigning, had promised the people that they would not be electing just an MP but a minister. Though after victory I was kept out even of the panel of party spokespersons," the Congress leader had said.

When the media started to give importance to his capabilities the party made him a spokesman but was later removed from there also, Pal said adding that he felt humiliated because of such a behaviour.

Last month, a CNN IBN report said that Pal reportedly met opposition leader Sushma Swaraj in Parliament and sources say that he could meet BJP chief Rajnath Singh soon.

OneIndia News

(With PTI inputs)