Ambika Soni wants to leave charge of hilly states, ‘not quitting Congress’

Congress general secretary Ambika Soni today dismissed reports of her resignation from the party, saying she had asked the leadership to lighten her duties due to her health. Soni is in-charge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.

“There is no question of resigning,” Soni told PTI. “I had myself asked the party leadership to lighten my duties in the party due to my health,” she said, adding that she will continue to fulfil the responsibilities till new appointments are made.

She said she had told the party leadership last year that Himachal Pradesh goes to polls later this year and it was difficult to travel in the three hill states due to her health.

Party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “We strongly reject insinuations being planted by our adversaries regarding her resignation.” He described her as one of the “most seasoned, experienced and capable” leaders of the party. “A year ago Ambika Soni had requested the party leadership to lighten her duties on account of her health. The party has and will always continue to utilise her experience and acumen,” he said.

The Congress leadership is in the process of restructuring the party by bringing in some new faces in leading roles, ahead of organisational elections that are set to end by October 15. The leadership has already made some new appointments in poll-bound states, including Gujarat, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.

Sources say that the party leadership is in the process of appointing a new state chief for Madhya Pradesh and some restructuring is expected in Himachal which goes to polls along with Gujarat in November.