Assam: Congress MP Abdul Khaleque withdraws resignation

Digital Desk: Abdul Khaleque on Wednesday has withdrawn his resignation after a meeting with Sonia Gandhi, a senior Congress leader, and the party presidentMallikarjun Kharge.

Khaleque said, "I am withdrawing my resignation. I was in Congress, I still am and will continue to remain in the party. I never questioned the ideals of the Congress or Soniaji, I just spoke what was in my heart."

"After I submitted my resignation, I was contacted by KC Venugopal, the office of Sonia Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge ji. Heeding to their requests, I am hereby withdrawing my resignation," he added.

Abdul Khaleque met with Sonia Gandhi, the former president of the Congress, earlier in the day and expressed his complete confidence in her. After the meeting, Khaleque told the media that he and Sonia Gandhi had a thorough conversation about the issues he had raised and that the Congress's central leadership had promised to investigate.

The Barpeta MP, “I met Madam Sonia Gandhi today. We had a very fruitful discussion. I told her what I had on my mind. I will not comment on whether I will again rejoin the Congress party or not. Whatever I had written on my resignation letter, I discussed the same things with Sonia Gandhi ji.”

When asked whether he would contest the elections independently, Khaleque responded, "I'm not contesting for Lok Sabha."

This comes as rumors circulated on Tuesday that Khaleque would withdraw his resignation from the party following his meeting with KC Venugopal, the general secretary of the Congress.

Abdul Khaleque announced his resignation from the Congress last Saturday during a news conference in Guwahati, one day after declaring his decision to step down. He cited several reasons for his decision.

The Congress leader said, "I was one of only three Muslim Members of Parliament in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections." Some officials here believe that Congress will endure as long as there are Muslims. A lot of the party's leaders were not happy when Ghulam Nabi Azad received the Padma Bhushan. Everyone is worthy of respect, I've always maintained."

Khaleque further highlighted the need for inclusion for Muslim communities, suggesting that, given the state's 34% Muslim population, Muslim candidates should be given about 4-5 seats in Assam. "In Assam, four to five Muslims must receive tickets. Assamese politics are centred on the 34 percent of the state's population who identify as Muslims. All political parties attack Muslims in their political endeavors, including the Congress, AIUDF, and BJP."