Resignation purely on personal grounds: Former Cong leader Gurudas Kamat

Mumbai: Former Union minister and ex-Congress Mumbai chief Gurudas Kamat, who announced his retirement from politics, on Tuesday said his resignation is purely on personal grounds and that he isn't quitting social work.

"Retiring from politics does not mean retiring from social work. I will continue to be available for people minus the party tag for whatever help or issues to be taken up with different agencies from this weekend," Kamat said.

"I would also like to emphasise that I have the highest respect and regard for Congress President Sonia Gandhi and VP Rahul Gandhi and my resignation is purely on personal grounds," Kamat said in a statement.

The statement comes amid reports that he was quitting Congress after being sidelined by the party leadership, particularly by Rahul Gandhi.

The 61-year-old veteran made the announcement on Monday. The move comes ahead of next year's Mumbai civic elections, where Congress would be seeking to dislodge the incumbent Shiv Sena-BJP combine.

Meanwhile, former Congress MLA Krishna Hegde today criticised Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief Sanjay Nirupam and said senior leaders should be taken into confidence and given their due.

In a statement, Hegde said "I had written to the high command to hold the block president's appointments done by Nirupam. Majority of elected representatives were not consulted in these appointments."

"My family has been associated with Mumbai Congress since 1965 and have worked with eminent personalities like HR Gokhale, SK Patil, Ramrao Adik, Sunil Dutt, Murli Deora, Gurudas Kamat and right upto (former Chief Minister) Narayan Rane's election we have worked for the party. Loyalists and effective senior leaders should be taken into confidence and given their due," he said.

"The Block President's appointments should be put on hold and leaders should work in cohesion. The party should have a positive feel before the BMC elections," Hegde said.