New Delhi: CR Kesavan, the great-grandson of veteran leader C Rajagopalachari, on Monday shared a letter informing about his resignation from the Congress party. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India, as India became a republic in 1950. He was also the first Indian-born Governor-General, as all previous appointees were British nationals.
In the 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.
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