CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh resigned from his post less than an hour before Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting.
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Amarinder’s media adviser Raveen Thukral tweeted, "CM Amarinder Singh has met Punjab governor and submitted his and his council of ministers’ resignation. He will address the media at the Raj Bhavan gate in a few minutes from now."
"I had made a decision in the morning. I had a word with the Congress president (Sonia Gandhi), and I conveyed it to her that I will resign today," he told media persons after handing over his resignation to the Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit.
"This is the third time that a meeting of party MLAs is being held in a few months. The MLAs were called to Delhi twice before. It seems that there is an element of doubt that I could not run (the government). But I feel humiliated the way it has been done. I decided that I will step down as the CM and they may appoint someone on whom they have confidence," he said, in a briefing outside the Raj Bhawan.
"This is politics. Whatever decision the Congress president took is fine. I have resigned as CM, they may make anyone they want," he said.
Replying to a question about his future plans, he said, "Future politics is always an option and I will use it at the right time."
Asked if the new CM will be acceptable to him, he said, "I will not do it right now. I will now consult with my associates and supporters and then make a decision. I have been in politics for 52 years and remained CM for 9.5 years and they have stood by me. I will speak to them and then decide."
On speculation that he could join the BJP, he said, "You may say whatever you wish to. I can only tell you I have been a Congress CM and I am in the Congress party and decide on the future course of politics after speaking to my supporters."
