Ghulam Nabi Azad Resignation Highlights: Ghulam Nabi Azad Quits Congress

Regret Azad leaving Congress when it is going through tough times: Farooq Abdullah
National 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.

"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.

From Loyalist To Rebel: Ghulam Nabi Azad's Journey In Congress
Veteran Congressman Ghulam Nabi Azad fell out with his mother party on Friday after a not-so-smooth relationship with the top brass in the past couple of years.

Ghulam Nabi Azad's resignation creates political storm in Kashmir, leaves Congress in disarray
Ghulam 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.

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 disarray
Ghulam 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.

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-command

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 

Jairam Ramesh tweets on Ghulam Nabi Azad's resignation

Congress Exits In 2022

Watch: Farooq Abdullah's Reaction

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

GN Azad Quits Congress: "Decisions Taken By Rahul Gandhi, Or His Guards"
Ghulam Nabi Azad, a Congress veteran and former Union Minister, quit the party today with a searing attack on Rahul Gandhi, calling him out for "glaring immaturity" and for "demolishing the consultative mechanism" in the party.