Congress exodus: Gourav Vallabh and other politicians who quit the party since 2020

Gourav Vallabh – April 4, 2024

Gourav Vallabh, a prominent Congress spokesperson known for his expertise in finance and economy, resigned from the party citing its perceived lack of direction and failure to effectively communicate its policies and manifesto.

In his resignation letter addressed to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Vallabh highlighted concerns about the party’s stance on issues such as caste census and its perceived bias against the Hindu community, stating that the party seemed to be moving away from its foundational principles and losing touch with the expectations of ‘New India’.

Vallabh expressed disillusionment with the party’s leadership, emphasising the importance of ground-level connection and direct communication between leaders and workers. He criticised the party’s decision to skip the Ram Temple ceremony, indicating that such actions only served to alienate supporters and demotivate party workers like himself.

Ashok Chavan – February 12, 2024

The Maharashtra Congress grappled with internal turmoil following the resignation of former chief minister Ashok Chavan, along with other leaders exiting the state unit.

While some senior leaders blamed the party’s high command for neglecting concerns like Chavan’s, others attributed the departures to the looming threats of central agency probes and uncertainty about political futures.

Ashok Chavan resigned Indian national Congress on February 12, 2024.

Chavan’s resignation, while devoid of public criticism towards the Congress, highlighted underlying tensions within the party, with accusations of mismanagement and dissatisfaction with state leadership.

Despite efforts by the central leadership to address Chavan’s grievances and accommodate his demands, speculations persisted about his potential shift to the BJP, fuelling further uncertainty within the Maharashtra Congress.

Milind Deora – January 14, 2024

Former Union Minister Milind Deora’s resignation from the Congress and subsequently joined the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, on 14 January.

Former Union Minister Milind Deora (Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)

Deora’s departure, amid the party’s efforts to galvanise support ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, underscored underlying tensions within the Maharashtra Congress and raised questions about the party’s ability to retain key leaders.

Sources pointed to internal disagreements and a perceived disconnect between the party’s leadership and its grassroots, highlighting challenges faced by the Congress amidst shifting political dynamics in the state.

Deora’s decision to align with the Shiv Sena was influenced by factors such as frustration with the Congress leadership and dissatisfaction over seat allocation.

Anil Antony – January 24, 2023

The Congress faced internal turmoil as former Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony’s son, Anil Antony, resigned from all party posts following disagreements over his tweet regarding the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Anil cited “intolerant calls to retract” his tweet as the reason for his resignation from the party’s digital teams. His decision sparked sharp reactions within the party, with Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh comparing him unfavourably to former CM Oommen Chandy’s son Chandy Oommen, who was actively participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra alongside Rahul Gandhi.

Anil Antony expressed disappointment with the Congress leadership, stating that he believed the party had no space for him. Despite not discussing his decision with his father A K Antony, he submitted his resignation hoping for acceptance from the leadership.

Meanwhile, the BJP seized the opportunity to criticise the Congress, with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala highlighting Anil’s resignation as indicative of the Congress’s lack of tolerance and commitment to free speech.

BJP members praised Anil’s decision to prioritise national interest over party politics and condemned the Congress for allegedly stifling dissenting voices.

Amarinder Singh – November 2, 2022

Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh resigned on November 2, 2022 from the Congress and announced his new party, ‘Punjab Lok Congress’.

In his resignation letter to then Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Singh expressed deep disappointment with the party’s decision to appoint Navjot Singh Sidhu as the President of the Punjab Congress Committee. He referred to Sidhu as an “acolyte of the Pakistani deep state.”

Singh cited this as a significant factor in his decision to part ways with the Congress, despite his longstanding association with the party spanning over six decades.

Jaiveer Shergill – August 24, 2022

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill’s resignation from the party underscored growing disillusionment among party members with the current leadership and decision-making processes.

In his letter to Sonia Gandhi, Shergill highlighted the disconnect between the party’s ideology and the aspirations of modern India’s youth, citing the “dominance of sycophancy and self-serving interests” within the organisation.

Shergill resigned on august 24, 2022

Shergill’s departure is indicative of broader challenges facing the Congress, as internal strife and a perceived lack of focus on public interest erode the party’s credibility.

Ghulam Nabi Azad – August 26, 2022

Veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s resignation from the party and his scathing critique of its internal functioning had sent shockwaves through the political landscape.

In his five-page letter to then party president Sonia Gandhi, Azad lamented the erosion of democratic processes within the party, citing the lack of organisational elections and the dominance of a select group in decision-making.

He criticised the sidelining of senior leaders and the “emergence of an inexperienced coterie”, attributing the party’s electoral setbacks to a “failure in leadership and strategy” under both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Azad’s departure marks another significant blow to the Congress, highlighting deep-seated divisions and discontent within the party ranks.

Hardik Patel – May 18 2022

Hardik Patel’s resignation from the Congress, in 2022, followed by his scathing remarks against the party’s leadership, dealt a significant blow to the Congress ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

Patel, who was once appointed as the working president of the state unit, cited disillusionment with the party’s leadership, accusing them of being more preoccupied with trivial matters like mobile messages and catering to the needs of Delhi leaders with chicken sandwiches.

He lambasted the Congress for its failure to provide effective leadership and obstructing key national issues, including the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, rather than offering constructive solutions.

The Congress, in response, condemned Patel’s resignation and accused him of colluding with the BJP. Party leaders emphasised that Patel had been given significant responsibilities and questioned his sudden shift in stance regarding contentious issues like the Ram Mandir and Article 370.

Sunil Jakhar – May 14, 2022

Casting serious aspersions on the way then Congress president Sonia Gandhi was handling party affairs, former chief of Punjab Congress Committee Sunil Jakhar quit Congress in a Facebook live video on May 14, 2022.

In his Facebook live video, Jakhar criticised the Congress for its lack of effective leadership and accused the party of failing to address the pressing issues facing Punjab.

Jakhar’s resignation sparked reactions from various quarters within the Congress, with some expressing regret over his departure while others questioning the timing and motives behind his decision.

RPN Singh – January 25, 2022

Singh’s defection from the Congress to the BJP just before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in January 2022 had dealt a significant blow to the party.

As a prominent backward caste leader, Singh’s decision to join the BJP not only underscored the challenges faced by the Congress but also bolstered the BJP’s appeal among certain demographics in Uttar Pradesh.

His departure further depleted the ranks of the Rahul brigade within the Congress, following the footsteps of leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada, who also crossed over to the BJP in recent years.

Kapil Sibal – May 25, 2022

Kapil Sibal’s resignation from the Congress party in May 2022 and his subsequent decision to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha as an Independent candidate supported by the Samajwadi Party (SP) came as a shocker for the grand old party.

Sibal resigned congress in May 2022

His exit highlighted the struggle within the Congress to address internal dissent and reconcile competing interests, particularly as it navigated its role in the Opposition against the BJP government.

Sibal’s move also reflected a broader realignment within the opposition landscape, as he seeked to unite various political forces against the BJP government’s policies and approach.

Ashwani Kumar – February 15, 2022

In February 2022, former Union minister Ashwani Kumar resigned from the Congress just days before Punjab went to polls. A party veteran, he was the first senior UPA cabinet minister to leave the Congress following its defeat in the 2019 elections.

Kumar’s departure added to the string of exits by leaders from the Congress, including prominent youth faces like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, R P N Singh, Sushmita Dev, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Laliteshpati Tripathi over the past two years.

His resignation highlighted the growing disenchantment among both the old guard and the younger leaders with the state of affairs within the party.

Sushmita Dev – August 15, 2021

Sushmita Dev, the former president of the All India Mahila Congress and a prominent face of the Congress in Assam, joined the Trinamool Congress after resigning from the Congress party. Her departure marked a blow to the Congress, which had seen several young leaders leaving in recent years.

Despite her long association with the Congress, Dev’s resignation reflected growing frustration among young leaders over the party’s direction and decision-making.

Dev’s decision to join the Trinamool Congress came after months of speculation regarding her discontent with the Congress leadership, particularly over issues related to candidate selection and seat-sharing in Assam.

Despite her efforts to address concerns within the party, Dev felt that her political space was shrinking and that her community’s interests were not being adequately represented.

Jitin Prasada – June 9, 2021

Jitin Prasada, the first among the Group of 23 Congress leaders who had advocated for significant changes within the party, departed from the Congress to join the BJP, just ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

His decision to switch sides dealt another blow to the Congress, already grappling with a continuous exodus of leaders since 2014. As a close associate of Rahul Gandhi, Prasada’s exit, following Jyotiraditya Scindia’s move to the BJP IN 2020, underscored the ongoing challenges faced by the Congress in retaining its young leadership.

Although Prasada’s influence in Uttar Pradesh may not have been as substantial as Scindia’s in Madhya Pradesh, his departure highlighted the deeper issues plaguing the Congress. Despite holding key positions and responsibilities within the party, the Congress failed to address Prasada’s concerns, leading to his defection to the BJP.

Prasada’s shift to the BJP was seen as a strategic move, especially in the context of Uttar Pradesh politics and the BJP’s efforts to consolidate support from various communities. As a Brahmin leader, Prasada’s entry into the BJP appealed to the politically significant Brahmin community in the state, potentially altering the political narrative in favor of the BJP.

Jyotiraditya Scindia – March 11, 2020

In March 2020, Jyotiraditya Scindia, a four-time MP and former Union minister, resigned from the Congress.

His departure, along with at least 22 MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, dealt a significant blow to the then Congress-led Kamal Nath state government, leading to its collapse just over a year after coming to power.

Scindia resigned congress in march 2020.

In his resignation letter, Scindia expressed his disillusionment with the Congress, stating that while his aim to serve the people remained unchanged, he believed he could no longer do so within the party.

Despite being considered a potential successor to Rahul Gandhi after the Congress’s 2019 Lok Sabha defeat, Scindia’s exit underscored the challenges facing the party in retaining its young leaders and repositioning itself as a modern political entity.