'Better to die with self-respect': Former maharaja of Bharatpur Vishvendra Singh quits Congress

JAIPUR: Former Rajasthan minister and former Bharatpur Maharaja Vishvendra Singh on Friday announced that he was leaving the Congress, two days after launching a sharp attack on state party president Govind Singh Dotasra over the recent urban local body elections, news agency PTI reported.Singh, a member of the erstwhile Bharatpur royal family, announced his decision in a social media post, saying he was guided by his conscience and was hurt by statements made by some party leaders.However, there was no immediate confirmation from the Congress on whether Singh had formally submitted his resignation."I have always taken decisions in my life by listening to my revered Giriraj Maharaj and my inner voice," Singh said.He said statements made by some "petty and so-called leaders" had angered his supporters and left him hurt."If speaking the truth and not supporting what is wrong and false are sins, I will commit one every time. I neither do wrong nor tolerate wrong," he said.Singh said he had devoted his life to the party but could no longer go ahead with its "wrong policies"."Instead of dying of suffocation, it is better to die with self-respect," Singh said.His announcement came amid a public war of words between him and sections of the state Congress. Singh had earlier blamed the Congress's Bharatpur and Deeg district presidents for the party's performance in the civic polls, alleging that tickets were distributed to favourites while genuine workers were sidelined.Congress won 3,613 wards out of the total declared wards in the civic body polls, compared with 4,179 wards won by the BJP.Singh subsequently targeted Dotasra directly and demanded his resignation. He also sought an investigation into allegations relating to recruitment examinations and benefits allegedly received by members of the PCC chief's family.Dotasra on Thursday rejected suggestions of a rift in the Congress and described reports of differences as part of the BJP's "toolkit"."There is no discord among us. This is the BJP's toolkit. The BJP spreads propaganda and tries to show that there are differences within the Congress," Dotasra had said.Singh is a former Deeg-Kumher MLA who served as tourism minister in the previous Ashok Gehlot government. He contested the 2023 Assembly election but lost.(With agency inputs)You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Jaipur | Silver Rate in Jaipur | Bank Holidays in Jaipur | Public Holidays in Jaipur | Jaipur AQI | Weather in Jaipur | Petrol Price in Jaipur | Diesel Price in Jaipur | CNG Price in Jaipur | LPG Price in JaipurStay updated with the latest Jaipur news. Download the TOI App.