Jammu:
In a major set back to the Congress ahead of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, two-time MP and former state minister Lal Singh today resigned from the party alleging senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad of interfering in the working of party's state unit.
"I have left the party due to interference of Azad in the state Congress and denial of ticket in the recent Lok Sabha polls. I will not tolerate this," Mr Lal told reporters.
"The discipline, decorum and ideology of the party are not there in the Congress now. Therefore, I found it better to leave," he said.
Mr Azad was not available for comments.
Mr Singh, who hails from Kathua district, had won the 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections as Congress candidate from Udhampur.
He was elected to state Assembly in 1996 and 2002, and had served as the Minister for Health and Medical Education in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led coalition government in 2003.