Congress Take On Surgical Strike, Comment On Dropadi Murmu's Nomination: Why CR Kesavan Quit Party

CR Kesavan, the great-grandson of C Rajagopalachari, has resigned from Congress saying he did not feel he belonged to the party anymore.

CR Kesavan, the great-grandson of India's first Indian Governor-General and former Madras state CM C Rajagopalachari, resigned from the Congress party saying that he realised his way of "doing politics was not in line with the party". He also spoke about the Congress's reaction to the surgical strike and the nomination of Droupadi Murmu as President.

"A senior Congress leader demanded proof of the surgical strike, it is disheartening. I realised that my way of doing politics is not in line with the party, so I did not even join the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. I felt I didn't belong here anymore," he said.

"When Droupadi Murmu ji's nomination was announced, a senior working committee member of the party said she represents an evil philosophy, another party member said no country should get a President like this," he added.

In the resignation letter, he elaborated on his decision to join the Congress in 2001 and now what made him quit. "I have not seen any vestiges of the values that made me work for the Party with dedication for over two decades. I can no longer in good conscience say that I concur with what the Party presently symbolizes, stands for nor seeks to propagate. This is why I had recently declined an organizational responsibility at the National Level and also refrained from participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra," he stated.

"It is time for me to chart a new path and therefore I resign from the Primary Membership of the Congress Party with immediate effect. I have also submitted to the appropriate authority my resignation as a Trustee of the Tamilnadu Congress Committee Charitable Trust," he informed.

He further mentioned that he is not in talks with any other party, stating: "There will be speculation of me going to another Party but to set the record straight, I have not spoken to anybody and honestly do not know what will unfold next."

C Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji, served in various important roles as leader of the Indian National Congress, Premier of the Madras Presidency, Governor of West Bengal, Minister for Home Affairs of the Indian Union, and Chief Minister of Madras state. He was one of the first recipients of the country's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. 

Notably, in January 1957, the veteran leader officially parted ways from the Congress party tendering his resignation. On June 4, 1959, he founded the Swatantra Party.