Nine-time MP from Koraput, former Chief Minister of Odisha and former Union Minister Giridhar Gamang on Saturday resigned from primary membership of the Congress ending month-long speculation.
Addressing mediapersons here, Gamang called it a day from the Congress for not given due importance by the party. He clarified that he cut off all relations with the party due to humiliation and lack of protection from the party high command.
He said he would join a new party, which would offer him its membership. But speculation, supported by Gamang’s politician-son Sisir, is that he is most likely to join the BJP.
Gamang, who sent in his resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi by fax, said, “I want to be free.” There is no question of returning to the party once he has taken the decision, he said.
He said many people still think that his single vote in the confidence motion in the lok Sabha had toppled the Vajpayee Government in 1999. “It was not my vote, which turned the tables of the Vajpayee Government but the cross voting of Prof Saifuddin Soz of the National Conference party,” he added.
Gamang said till today he has been humiliated and has suffered and lost self-respect and debated in public during every subsequent elections as the Congress leadership never came forward with the truth of the voting in the confidence motion and did not protect him from public criticism.
“It is painful for me because I had attended the lok Sabha and voted as directed by the party under the anti-defection law. I feel that my loyalty to the party has turned into a liability to the party,” he added.
Replying to queries as to why he raised the issue after 16 years, he said time is Almighty and he has taken his decision in right time.
Gamang said he has not quit the Congress to join any other party. On the speculation about his joining the BJP, he said, “I know the BJP will not accept me as I am seen as the person who defeated the Vajpayee Government in 1999.”
Earlier, Gamang’s son Sisir had told the media that his father would not join any regional party but a national party. After repeated questions on the subject, Gamang said he would think about it if any party requests him to join.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan said Gamang has quit the party “under pressure”. The Congress never humiliated him but gave him utmost respect, said Harichandan, adding, “It is hard to believe that he resigned because of a party decision taken way back in 1999. After all, he did contest the Koraput lok Sabha elections in 2004, 2009 and 2014,” the PCC chief pointed out.
Notably, Gamang was elected from the Koraput Parliamentary constituency for eight consecutive terms since 1972 and again in 2004. He had served as a Union Minister for 11 years under Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao. He was the Chief Minister between February 18, 1999 and December 6, 1999.
