Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar has tendered his resignation from the post following the defeat in the Lok Sabha election from Gurdaspur.
In his resignation sent to party president Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Jakhar pointed out that despite support from him, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, he failed to retain his seat. He, therefore, felt it was his moral responsibility to quit.
“Everyone put in their best for me but I was unable to defend my seat. In such a scenario I cannot continue as State chief. I felt a moral responsibility to quit,” said Mr. Jakhar in the letter sent on May 24.
Mr. Jakhar was defeated by BJP’s actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol by 5,58,719 votes.
Capt. Amarinder Singh said Mr. Jakhar’s resignation was unnecessary, given what he termed an impressive performance of the party in the State.
“Had he discussed the matter with me, I would have categorically advised him against quitting,” he said in a statement.
He said the case of Mr. Jakhar was different from other PCC chiefs who offered to quit as under his leadership the party had defied the national trends.
On Mr. Jakhar’s losing his seat, the Chief Minister said the PPCC chief was not to blame for it.
Capt. Amarinder hoped the party high command would not accept the resignation, which was an emotional reaction.
The Congress had won eight of the 13 seats, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP two each while the Aam Adami Party (AAP) won one.
