New Delhi: Citing his disagreement “with some of the individuals currently in positions of power in the party”, senior Bihar Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed resigned from the party hours after polling in the state was concluded.
In a letter addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the former health minister of Bihar said he had taken this decision with “a very heavy heart” earlier, but had decided to wait until the polling was complete because he did not wish that “any wrong message be sent before polling, or that the party lose even a single vote because of me”.
Ahmad has also clarified that he does not wish to join any other party or organisation. “Like my forefathers, I have unshakeable faith in the principles and policies of the Congress,” he said. “Throughout my life, I will remain a well-wisher and supporter of Congress’ ideals and principles. My last vote in life will also be cast in favour of Congress.”
Ahmad’s grandfather, Ahmad Gafoor, the letter says, was elected as a Congress MLA in 1937. After his death in 1948, his father, Shakoor Ahmad, was elected as an MLA in 1952 on a Congress party ticket, and between 1952 and 1977, he was elected five times as a Congress MLA from different constituencies. “After my father’s passing in 1981, I myself have been elected five times as an MLA and MP from the Congress Party since 1985,” Ahmad said.
Even though in April 2023, when he had decided not to contest any more elections, Ahmad had told the party that he would remain a Congressman for life, “now even that does not seem possible,” he said.
“In the end, I would once again like to reiterate that my differences might be with some individuals currently in positions of power within the party, but I have unshakeable faith in the Congress party’s policies and principles,” he added.
A former Union Minister of State for Home and Communications in the Manmohan Singh government and a medical doctor by training, Ahmad has served both as a Member of Parliament and as Bihar’s Health Minister. He has deep political roots in Madhubani.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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