The Congress party’s efforts to strengthen its grassroots organisation in Uttar Pradesh suffered a major setback on Saturday with the resignation of senior leader Nasimuddin Siddiqui. Following the development, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai is expected to visit Siddiqui’s residence to discuss the matter.
Siddiqui, who was considered one of the most influential ministers during the BSP government led by Mayawati, announced his resignation from the Congress, surprising political circles. He was serving as the party’s provincial president for western Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress had been projecting Siddiqui as a prominent Muslim face in the state, and his exit has triggered fresh political churn in the region. Explaining his decision, Siddiqui said the purpose for which he had joined the party was not being fulfilled.
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"Now, there are hundreds of people in every district. In some districts, there are thousands. Only a list of seventy-three people has been given so far. These are well-known people. But there are many more. If I wanted to play pressure politics, I would have stayed there and threatened to leave. I made this decision after consulting with my people. My people and I are not in the mood to go back. I have no animosity towards anyone," Siddiqui told the news agency ANI.
"I have no resentment towards anyone. I respect Kharge ji, Rahul ji, Priyanka ji, Sonia ji, and I will continue to respect them. There was no work for me there. I am a grassroots-level person. For eight years, I couldn't work at the ground level. I have never been a high-profile leader, nor am I now, so I want to work at the ground level, that's why I left the Congress party. Making someone the chairman of the media department is not grassroots-level work. Making someone a member of a committee is not grassroots-level work...I told the leaders that I am a man of the organisation. Now, there are many things which cannot be said," he added.