New Delhi: In what might come as a big blow to the Congress weeks ahead of Haryana Assembly elections, its former state unit chief Ashok Tanwar on Saturday resigned from the primary membership of the party, two days after quitting party’s election committees. Soon after extending his resignation to party officials, Tanwar accused his political rivals of “selling tickets” for the upcoming state polls.  Tanwar, who is said to be a close aide to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, claimed that there is a conspiracy going on to bring down leaders who were guided by Rahul Gandhi.

Announcing his decision to quit on Twitter, Tanwar posted a four-page resignation letter addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in which he said, "The Congress is going through existential crises, not because of its political opponents but because of serious internal contradiction."

"I after several months of consideration tender my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress party, which I nurtured from my sweat and blood. My fight is not personal but against the system which is destroying the grand old party," the letter added.


The reasons of his resignation are well known to all Congressmen, Tanwar said, adding that he has taken the decision after having long deliberations with party workers. He had openly revolted against the Congress party alleging irregularities and corruption in ticket distribution for the Haryana elections due in two weeks.

Earlier this week, Tanwar had quit several party panels, saying in a letter to Sonia Gandhi that he had taken the decision with "immense pain" and "after exhausting all avenues to get my voice heard". Last Sunday, Ashok Tanwar had protested outside Sonia Gandhi's home in Delhi alleging irregularities in the choice of poll candidates.

Tanwar had openly protested outside the Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence in New Delhi on Wednesday. He has been miffed with the party ever since he was removed as the Haryana Congress chief.

Tanwar was ousted as Haryana’s Congress chief last month and replaced by former Union minister Kumari Selja. His replacement had been pushed by former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was also appointed chairperson of the party’s election management committee.

Voting for the 90 assembly seats in Haryana will take place on October 21 and the results will be declared on October 24.