Bhagat Quits Cong, Likely To Float Regional Party

Former Union minister H K L Bhagat yesterday resigned from the Congress, in protest against the partys decision not to field him as its candidate for coming by-elections to the east Delhi parliamentary constituency.

Speaking to reporters here, Bhagat, who filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate for the second largest constituency in the capital earlier in the day, also hinted at the possibility of his floating a new regional political party Delhi Vikas Parishad.

I do not agree with the partys analysis of the political situation and the ground realities in the capital. I feel sad leaving the party at a time when Sonia Gandhi has become a primary member of the party, Bhagat, a former party heavyweight, said.

Earlier in the day, the Congress named A K Walia, the party MLA from Geeta colony, as its candidate for the poll scheduled for May 29. Bhagat said he had written a letter to Congress president Sitaram Kesri, tendering his resignation and explaining the reasons behind it. It was my moral duty to resign before filing nomination papers, said Bhagat, who was thrice elected the president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee.

He said there was a serious possibility of his floating a new party which would contest the state Assembly polls next year as also the parliamentary seats whenever general election take place.