Big blow for Congress as PC Chacko quits party ahead of Kerala polls

Congress veteran PC Chacko quit the party today alleging groupism and complaining that there was "no democracy left" in the Congress. His abrupt resignation came as a huge shock to the Congress in Kerala just days before polls next month.He announced this afternoon that he had quit the Congress and had sent his resignation to chief Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Chacko, 74, one of the Congress's top faces and spokespersons, is a former MP from Thrissur in Kerala. Accusing his party of ignoring state leaders in the selection of candidates for the April 6 Kerala polls, Mr Chaco said: "There is no democracy left in the Congress. The list of candidates has not been discussed with the state Congress committee. I have sent my resignation to Sonia Gandhi. "He added cuttingly: "Being a Congressman is Kerala is very difficult. If you belong to some faction in the Congress only then you can survive. The leadership of the Congress is not much active." Mr Chacko's exit is a big blow to the party  in a state where its top leader and campaigner Rahul Gandhi is an MP.