Amarinder Singh has several times talked about being "humiliated" amid Punjab tussle.
Amarinder Singh this afternoon declared he will quit the Congress, over a week after he stepped down as Punjab's Chief Minister amid escalating feud with rival Navjot Singh Sidhu ahead of the state elections. Shortly after, the party's name was dropped from his Twitter bio.
While the announcement came in an exclusive NDTV interview, a day after his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah that had triggered speculation about him joining the BJP, the veteran politician today clarified: "I have not resigned from the Congress but I will resign. I am not a person who takes split-second decisions. But I am not joining the BJP."
Soon after his remarks, a change in his Twitter bio followed. "Army Veteran. Former Chief Minister of Punjab. Continuing to Serve the State (sic)." it read.
At a time when a political spectacle was needed to win public support, the infighting in Punjab has subjected the Congress to criticism from rivals as well as its own leaders.
Even as Navjot Singh Sidhu suggested a thaw two days after resigning as the Punjab Congress chief, Amarinder Singh's remarks are going to increase the party's troubles in the state where elections are due early next year.
The 'Captain', as Amarinder Singh is sometimes referred to, today yet again said he felt insulted as the party failed to plug the crisis.
"I have been in politics for 52 years. I have my own beliefs, my own principles. The way I have been treated. At 10.30 am the Congress President says you resign. I didn't ask any questions. I said I will do it just now. At 4 pm I went to the Governor and resigned. If you doubt me after 50 years and my credibility is at stake. If there is no trust, what is the point of me staying in the party?" he told NDTV, recalling the events on the day of his shock exit.
After he had quit as the Chief Minister, he had told Sonia Gandhi he felt "anguished at (the) political events of (the) last five months".
"I was humiliated three times by Congress leadership in the past two months...they called MLAs to Delhi twice and convened CLP today (Saturday)... they do not have confidence in me... now up to them to appoint anyone they trust," he said.