Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 30, 2015

In a set back to the fledgling Congress party, former Chief Minister and nine-time MP Giridhar Gamango on Saturday tendered his resignation from the party alleging humiliation by the party which he served for over 43 years.

“I have sent my resignation letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Since the time of Vajpayee government’s fall due to one vote in 1999, I have been humiliated and lost self respect. Though I voted against the Vajpeyee government in wake of a whip, the party did not come to my rescue at any point of time,” Gamango told reporters here.

The former chief minister, however, is yet to decide whether to join any other political party though speculation was rife with the possibility of him joining the BJP.

Asked whether he will join any political party now, he called himself a “liability”. “Why will any political party take me? I have been accused of defeating the Vajpayee government. Therefore, BJP may not accept me. There is no question of joining any regional party (BJD),” he said.

The tribal leader also made it clear that he would not float any party. “No. I will have my music party,” he said jokingly. Gamang is an expert in playing “Changu”, a traditional musical instrument used by tribals of Koraput district.

Gamang said at present he was not affiliated to any political party though active in politics. “I will never return to Congress. I have also not decided whether to join any party. I will consider if I get invitation from any party,” he said.

Gamango was elected from Koraput Lok Sabha segment eight times in a row from the 5th Lok Sabha in 1972. He was again elected to the lower house of Parliament from the same seat in 2004 for the ninth time.

In a letter to Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, the former union minister said, “With a heavy heart and deep agony, I tender my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress. Please accept my resignation.”

The Congress veteran had also been a Union Minister under the Prime Ministership of Indira Gandhi for one year and five years each under Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narasihma Rao.

However, the 1999 no-confidence motion against the then Vajpayee government became a turning point in his political life, Gamango said. Considered to be one of the persons responsible for the fall of the Atal Behari Vajpyee government in 1999, Gamango, however, made it clear that not his but the then National Conference member Saifuddin Soz’s cross voting sealed the Vajpayee government’s fate.

“It was not my vote which turned the tables against the Vajpayee government but the cross-voting of Prof Saifuddin Soz. The Vajpayee government lost the confidence motion by one vote for the cross voting of Prof Soz as he had gone against the whip of his party and voted against the motion,” he told reporters here.

Asked whether he quit Congress due to “pressure” from his son Sisir, Gamango said, “No such pressure from any member of my family. I have not encouraged any of my family members into politics. But he (Sisir) is doing politics on his own.”

The first murmer about Gamango’s displeasure was started by his son nearly two weeks ago which was denied by the Congress veteran vehemently in a programme of a satellite channel. But nearly three days ago his son again started the talk about a possible resignation of Gomango from the party keeping media abuzz.

Pradesh Congress Committee President Prasad Harichandan described Gomango’s resignation from the paryb as ‘Unfortunate’. Asserting that the party always gave the respect due to the party veteran and never tried to humiliate him, Harichandan said the reason furnished by him was not true.

“The party gave him ticket for nine times in a row to return to Lok Sabha. He was made the Chief Minister in State and a union minister several times. Hence it is not true that he has been humiliated by the party in any way.”

BJD spokesman Rabi Narayan Nanda said Gomango’s exit from the Congress explains the extent of anguish of the veteran tribal leader.

“It is shocking. But it speaks volumes about the internal situation within the Congress. Now Congress is virtually finished”, Nanda remarked.

Odisha Jan Morcha President Pyari Mohan Mohapatra said in his reaction that the resignation of Gamongo makes it amply clear that all is not well in Congress. “With Gamango’s resignation the Congress base among the tribals in the State will be hit badly,” Mohapatra said.

“He will be an asset for any party if he decides to join it,” Mohapatra said.

BJP leaders—Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and former State Unit chief Suresh Pujari – said that it must have been a great shock to Congress as Gamongo was the tribal face of the Party in the State.

However they said, Gamango has not expressed any desire to join BJP so far.

“In case it happens, then Party high command will take appropriate decision,” he said.

However, Congress Chief Whip in State Assembly Taraprasad Bahinipati denied any humiliation of Gamango in the party. “Gomango was given party ticket for nine times to get elected to Lok Sabha. His family members were also given ticket thrice. This is proof that Party never humiliated him,” Bahinipati said.