Congress leader Neelam Mishra quits party alleging humiliation by Priyanka Gandhi; BJP launches attack

LS Polls 2019: Mishra said, "LS ticket was given to an outsider Ramakant Yadav who came from BJP. It was a huge blow for us. In a meeting, we tried to talk to Priyanka Gandhi about it. But she got upset and said insulting things."

Alleging humiliation by AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress district president Neelam Mishra quit the party on Sunday.

LS Polls 2019: Alleging humiliation by AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress district president Neelam Mishra quit the party on Sunday. Mishra said the party ignored its local leaders and workers by giving the ticket to an 'outsider'. "LS ticket was given to an outsider Ramakant Yadav who came from BJP. It was a huge blow for us. In a meeting, we tried to talk to Priyanka Gandhi about it. But she got upset and said insulting things," Mishra said. "Yadav distanced himself from the party workers. We were not provided with any support, despite the fact that Yadav was given crores in funds by the party," she was quoted as saying by ANI. Earlier on Saturday, some other office bearers also resigned from the party saying that Priyanka misbehaved when they approached the later with a complaint regarding the candidate. Misra was quoted saying, "A complaint was made to Priyanka Gandhi about Congress candidate Ramakant Yadav not coordinating with anyone in the unit on Friday and she was also told that none of the office bearers was invited for a rally here." Misra alleged that Priyanka Gandhi not only ignored their grievance but also used "strong words" against her publicly. "But the AICC general secretary paid no heed and said if they are feeling humiliated over this then they can continue to feel this way," Misra claimed. Priyanka Gandhi had addressed an election rally in Bhadohi in support of the party candidate Yadav on Friday. Misra said she and other office-bearers had approached Priyanka Gandhi as she is the Congress's eastern Uttar Pradesh in-charge. "But it seems that she does not have the thinking that could encourage the partymen," Misra said. Following Mishra's resignation, BJP's candidate from Puri constituency Sambit Patra launched an attack on Congress, saying that the Bhadohi incident exposes the "naamdaar" mentality of Congress party. "What happened to the Bhadohi Congress workers exposes the naamdaar mentality of Congress. The result of this is that the whole working committee of the Congress party in the region has given their resignation," said Patra. "The Congress workers said that they gave their resignation after Priyanka Gandhi used derogatory language. This shows the reality of Congress and exposes their hollow claims of treating every one with love," he added. Bhadohi would vote in the 7th phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. (With inputs from agencies)