He blames Rahul Gandhi for the Congress's defeat in 2014
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad quit the party today calling out Rahul Gandhi for "immaturity" and for "demolishing the consultative mechanism" in the party.
Ghulam Nabi Azad had been a leading member of the G-23 or the group of 23 "dissenters" who had written to Sonia Gandhi in 2020 calling for a complete overhaul of the organization and a full-time and visible leadership.
Here are the Highlights on Ghulam Nabi Azad's Resignation From Congress
Regret Azad leaving Congress when it is going through tough times: Farooq AbdullahNational Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday expressed regret over the resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from the Congress and said he should not have done so when the party was going through tough times.
Mr Azad resigned from all party positions on Friday.
"I regret it. Ghulam Nabi gave his life to INC. He has worked for it since his college days. He rose to the highest levels in Congress - he was a minister in many governments, member of working committee, general secretary. He was a pillar of the Congress party. He was like a family member to Indira, Rajiv, Sanjay Gandhi," Mr Abdullah told reporters.
He said Mr Azad's leaving the party when the Congress is passing through tough times was not good.
"Had he left the party when it returned to its route, then it was alright, but leaving it in a vortex is not a good thing to do. Well, it is his decision, I didn't know about it and heard from the media.
Ghulam Nabi Azad's resignation creates political storm in Kashmir, leaves Congress in disarrayGhulam Nabi Azad's resignation from the Congress created a political storm in Jammu and Kashmir Friday as former minister R S Chib and four other party leaders also quit, and more are likely to go, leaving the grand old party in disarray in the union territory.
As Azad ended his decades-old association with the party, leaders across political spectrum praised his contribution to Jammu and Kashmir, with the BJP hailing him as a "towering leader".
However, recently designated Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani -- also seen as an Azad loyalist -- and his predecessor G A Mir, who belonged to the rival camp, said they will work with double the resolve now to strengthen the party at the grassroots in the union territory.
Exits of Ghulam Nabi Azad, KapilSibal leave G-23 change seekers in disarrayGhulam Nabi Azad's resignation from the Congress on Friday marked the most high-profile exit of one of the "Group of 23" (G-23) leaders, who had written to party chief Sonia Gandhi two years ago for a "collective and inclusive leadership" in the organisation, exposing the faultlines in the grand old party.
The G-23, the members of which were lampooned by the party loyalists after their letter became public on August 24, 2020, has virtually disintegrated over the last two years with the resignations of Mr Azad and Kapil Sibal, seen as the prime movers of the initiative, and others such as Shashi Tharoor, M Veerappa Moily and Mukul Wasnik making peace with the high-command.
Leaders such as Jitin Prasada and Yogananda Shastri have also quit the Congress to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) respectively. Mr Prasada is a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government now, while Mr Shastri heads the Delhi unit of the NCP.
Ashok Gehlot takes swipe at Ghulam Nabi Azad over allegations levelled by him against Congress high-commandRajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took a dig at Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday over the allegations levelled by him against the Congress leadership, saying it is not right for people whose very identity is due to the party to say such things.
Mr Azad resigned from all party positions on Friday ahead of the organisational polls, describing the Congress as "comprehensively destroyed" and accusing its leadership of committing "fraud" on the party in the name of "sham" internal elections.
Mr Gehlot said no one had expected that someone who was never kept without an office by the Congress for 42 years would say such things about the party.
"The Congress has given everything to Azad saab. Today, his identity in the country is because of the Congress, because of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao and Sonia Gandhi. I do not think the way he has expressed this sentiment can be called proper," he told reporters when asked about Mr Azad's resignation.
Watch: Anand Sharma's Reaction On Ghulam Nabi Azad's Resignation
Ghulam Nabi Azad To Form New Party After Quitting Congress: Sources
Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the Congress today with a scathing critique of the Gandhis, mainly Rahul Gandhi, is likely to launch a new party.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has been quoted as saying he would like to launch his party on his home turf.
Read More "Contents Of Letter Not Factual, Timing Awful": Congress On GN Azad's Exit
Ghulam Nabi Azad's letter is factually inaccurate and its timing is awful, Congress said in response to the scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi by the 73-year-old former Congress veteran. While acknowledging Mr Azad's contributions to the party, Congress spokespersons said it was "unfortunate" that the senior leader had resigned in such fashion at a time when the party is gearing up for massive nationwide mobilisation against the ruling BJP.
Read More Jairam Ramesh tweets on Ghulam Nabi Azad's resignation
"Congress Leaders Frustrated: Jaiveer Shergill After GN Azad's Resignation
Reacting to veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's resignation from the party, lawyer-turned-politician Jaiveer Shergill today said leaders across age groups were frustrated with its 'coterie culture.'
Mr Shergill, who resigned as Congress spokesperson on Wednesday, said the decision-making of the grand-old party is not in consonance with the ground reality and public interest but is influenced by sycophancy.
Watch: Farooq Abdullah's Reaction
5 Takeaways From Ghulam Nabi Azad's Resignation Letter
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad quit the party today calling out Rahul Gandhi for "immaturity" and for "demolishing the consultative mechanism" in the party. Read here
The entire Congress party organisation across India is engaged, confronting, combatting and fighting the BJP on issues of price rise, unemployment and polarization, Jairam Ramesh reacts to Ghulam Nabi Azad's resignation
Ghulam Nabi Azad was a veteran Congress leader. It's very sad that he decided to resign at a time when the Congress party is fighting against price rise and other issues, and directly against BJP: Ajaj Maken
Read Ghulam Nabi Azad's Explosive Resignation Letter To Sonia Gandhi
Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad, a former Union minister, quit the party today calling out Rahul Gandhi for "immaturity" and for "demolishing the consultative mechanism" in the party. In an explosive letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said he has resigned from all positions and the primary membership of the Congress. Read Here