Former minister Vishvendra Singh quits Congress after lashing out at state leadership

Vishvendra Singh resigned from the Congress party on Friday, stating that it was better to die with self-respect than to live with suffocation. His exit came just two days after he publicly blamed state unit president Govind Singh Dotasra and accused local leaders in Bharatpur and Deeg of ignoring genuine party workers during ticket distribution for local polls.

Internal Conflict

In a statement shared on social media, Singh said small-time leaders had angered his workers with baseless statements while his own conscience remained deeply troubled. He claimed that voters were ready to hold local leaders accountable for the ruin of the party in Bharatpur and Deeg, pointing out that Bharatpur is the Chief Minister's home district. He also alleged that Dotasra misused past power to benefit family members and demanded his resignation or expulsion from the party. State unit chief Dotasra dismissed the attacks as mere propaganda and blamed the BJP toolkit for creating fake discord.

Political Journey

Singh is an influential Jat leader from the region and hails from the erstwhile royal family of Bharatpur. His political career spans multiple parties, having previously won elections on Janata Dal, BJP, and Congress tickets over the decades. He was also a key figure in the 2020 political rebellion led by Sachin Pilot against the Ashok Gehlot government, which led to a brief suspension before his return to the cabinet.

Context

Internal disagreements over ticket distribution and local leadership often flare up in major political parties following electoral losses. Leaders who switch parties multiple times throughout their careers frequently leverage their local support base to pressure party high commands during disputes.