CR Kesavan, grandson of India's first Indian Governor-General, resigns from Congress party; read full letter here

Congress leader CR Kesavan, grandson of India's first Indian Governor-General, C Rajagopalachari, resigned from the Congress party on Thursday. He tweeted his letter of resignation, which was addressed to the Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

"I have been a member of the Congress party for the last 22 years, but unfortunately, over a period of time, I feel that in the INC, the attitude and approach were neither constructive nor concrete. The values for which I worked, had changed," CR Kesavan on his resignation from the Congress party to ANI.

"I don't think I should comment about Congress once I've left the party. I am not comfortable with the way the politics was done in the Congress party and the right thing is to leave the party and that's what I did today, " Kesavan further said.

Here's his full resignation letter

Leaving behind a successful career abroad, I returned to India to serve our nation. Driven by an ideology that was all inclusive and committed to the goal of incremental national transformation, I joined the Congress Party in 2001.

The journey thereafter was challenging and engaging. I got an opportunity to serve as Vice President [in the Rank of a State Minister] of the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development at Sriperumbudur, Member of the Prasar Bharati Board, National Council Member of the Indian Youth Congress and as a National Media Panelist, among others.

I earnestly thank the Party & Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji for all the responsibilities entrusted to me over the years in Government and the organization. I have forged cherished friendships here that will remain.

But I am truly sad to say that for a while now 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.

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.

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.

I hiwill endeavour in good faith to resolutely serve our country through a political platform, it will be one where I can continue to steadfastly uphold the integrity & mideals of public life, instilled and defended by the founding fathers & mothers of i our great nation and my great-grandfather C. Rajagopalachari. Jai Hind!

Published on: Thursday, February 23, 2023, 09:01 AM IST