Gurudas Kamat again urges Sonia to relieve him of all party posts

Senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat on Thursday again requested party President Sonia Gandhi to relieve him of the responsibilities of Rajasthan and other positions.

Kamat also denied any move to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In a letter to Gandhi on Thursday, Kamat said: "Am truly grateful but suprised that the AICC spokesperson yesterday announced that I continue to be the General Secretary in-charge of Rajasthan.

"I had written to you 'my heart is not in the job anymore'. Hence, please relive me from Rajasthan and other positions also," he wrote.

Kamat had quit all posts in the party on Wednesday.

Congress on Wednesday had appointed former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as General Secretary in-charge of Gujarat in place of Kamat.

As General Secretary, Kamat was handling the party affairs for the crucial western Indian state of Gujarat, besides Rajasthan, and Union Territories of Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

"I am truly grateful to the Congress president and vice-president for having announced through the AICC spokesperson yesterday (Wednesday) that I will continue to be General Secretary in-charge of Rajasthan inspite of my request to relieve me from all posts," said Kamat in a statement on Thursday.

"I had clearly stated to Rahul Gandhi during our meeting, 'my heart is not in the job anymore' and therefore I need to be relieved and that since elections are due in Gujarat this year and Rajasthan next year, there is not a day to waste and that he should make the new appointments urgently," he added.

In June 2016, Kamat created a flutter by announcing his decision to quit the Congress and politics, but was persuaded by the Gandhis to stay back and continue working for the party.

Prior to that, he had shot into headlines in July 2011 when he abruptly quit the Manmohan Singh ministry, citing "personal reasons" for his move.

--IANS

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