Congress party is best platform to serve people: Kamat

Former union minister and five-time Lok Sabha member from Mumbai Gurudas Kamat, who is back as Congress general secretary after he withdrew his resignation, on Friday said the "Congress party was the best platform to serve the people".

"When I met President Sonia Gandhi ji day before yesterday, she explained to me everything and I thought she was right. Then I decided that I should once again get attached with the party. I thought Congress Party is the best platform to serve the people," Kamat told reporters.

"I did not expect that I would be again given the same charge of the general secretary, but the party president told me that I would be working at the same post," he added.

Kamat resigned on June 6, but the party high command did not accept his resignation and senior party leaders tried to persuade him to withdraw the resignation and continue to work in the party.

Asked if Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam was the reason behind his resignation, Kamat said: "I have spent my entire life in Congress, for 45 years. How can one leave the party for one Sanjay Nirupam?

"I had some personal issues because of which I thought I should leave. For the last three-four months I thought I needed some time for myself. I was unable to give myself time because I was travelling in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and used to be busy there," he added.

"Gujarat elections are also coming after one-and-a-half years. So I thought if I leave now it would be a correct decision instead of leaving just a couple of months before the elections, which would have been unfair," he added.

Asked about Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's much-talked about elevation to the post of president, Kamat said: "I support Rahul Gandhi's elevation to the post of party president, but what kind of surgery the party needs has to be decided by the party president."

--IANS

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