To Sh. Mallikarjun Kharge, MP President, Indian National Congress 24, Akbar Road New Delhi Subject: Affairs of the Indian National Congress, Haryana — and Resignation from the Party Dear Kharge Ji, As we do not know each other personally, please allow me to introduce myself. I am a six term Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly, having also served as a Cabinet Minister for two terms and as Leader of the Opposition for one term. Before entering politics, I worked as an Assistant Professor of Political Science. To briefly recount my political journey, I joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 2009. I had been assured the Fatehabad Assembly seat but was instead assigned to contest from Nalwa. The people of Nalwa, however, placed their trust in my ethics and commitment, electing me as their representative in the Haryana Assembly. Notably, the INC lost the Fatehabad seat, a direct result of public resentment over my shift to Nalwa, despite having previously won Fatehabad five times. My entry into the INC also helped the party win about half a dozen additional seats in regions where I had political influence. Despite my contribution and experience, I was denied both a cabinet berth and any organisational role. I later learned that this was because I had met Kumari Selja after the elections, and her ministry had approved a grant of ₹18 crore for my constituency. Thereafter, I was effectively confined to one constituency, denying me the opportunity to strengthen the party elsewhere in Haryana. Many colleagues who joined the INC with me eventually returned to the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in 2014 . As a result, the INLD went on to win the Hisar Lok Sabha seat, and consequently the Vidhan Sabha seats. History repeated itself in the 2019 Assembly elections, when I was again denied a ticket. Both Nalwa and Fatehabad were then won by the BJP. In 2024, I was appointed Coordinator for the Lok Sabha elections in Sirsa constituency, where Kumari Selja was contesting as the INC candidate. Due to my sincere efforts for her victory, the State Leadership felt insecure. Also, during the same year I attended Kumari Selja’s rally in Narnaund, which angered the State Leadership. Later that year, I was again denied a party ticket, and once more, the INC lost Nalwa. The 2024 Haryana Assembly elections should serve as a case study for the INC. Every survey, media outlet, and informal assessment predicted a Congress victory. Yet we suffered defeat, a result that came as no surprise to those aware of the persistent decay within the organisation. Since 2009, the party has ignored every warning sign as its fortunes steadily declined. The Exodus that Warned Us Sh. Bhajan Lal Ji – Former PCC Chief, three-term Chief Minister, Three-term Lok Sabha MP, one-term Rajya Sabha MP, and union Minister was mocked and humiliated, forcing him to leave the INC. The consequences were disastrous. Sh. Rao Inderjit Singh – Four-term MLA, six-term MP, and staunch Congressman left after sustained humiliation by State Leadership. Today, he serves as a union Minister. Sh. Kuldeep Bishnoi – Four-term MLA, two-term MP left after repeated marginalisation. Sh. Dharambir Singh – Four-term MLA, three-term MP quit the INC due to factionalism. Today, he is a BJP MP. Sh. Birender Singh – Former PCC President, five-term MLA, three-term MP a loyal Congressman who was humiliated and driven out. Even his union Cabinet appointment was reportedly blocked by State Leadership. Dr. Ashok Tanwar – Former PCC President, one-term MP resigned after facing physical assault and humiliation. Dr. Arvind Sharma – Four-term MP, one-term MLA sidelined by State Leadership; now a Cabinet Minister in the Haryana BJP government. Sh. Avtar Bhadana – Four-term MP marginalised by State Leadership; now an MLA in Uttar Pradesh. The 2016 Rajya Sabha episode stands as another glaring example. Sonia Gandhi had approved Sh. R.K. Anand’s candidature, backed 37 MLAs of INC and INLD. Yet a State Leader secured permission from the INC “not to vote.” How could such permission be granted? An Independent MLA, now an INC MP was even instructed to use a pen other than that provided by the Returning Officer, leading to all votes being invalidated. 2019–2024: The Final Unraveling Kumari Selja, General Secretary, AICC and one of India’s tallest Dalit women leaders, was appointed HPCC President but removed in 2022 at the insistence of the State Leadership. She was systematically prevented from performing her duties. Smt. Shruti Chaudhary, two-term MP and granddaughter of the late Sh. Bansi Lal, was denied a ticket from Bhiwani. Today, she is a Cabinet Minister in the BJP government. Smt. Kiran Chaudhary, five-term MLA, former Deputy Speaker (Delhi), and two-term Cabinet Minister (Haryana), was repeatedly insulted and sidelined. When she served as CLP Leader, a certain group’s MLAs were instructed to boycott her meetings. Her departure from the INC was celebrated by those now presiding over its decline. She went on to help the BJP secure five of six seats in Bhiwani-Dadri and is now a BJP Rajya Sabha member. Smt. Savitri Jindal, three-term MLA and two-term Minister, resigned from the INC; she now serves as an Independent MLA. Sh. Naveen Jindal, three-term MP, also left the party and is now a BJP MP. Meanwhile, the State Leadership consolidated its personal political power. In 2020, when a Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant, instead of promoting a deserving member from the Scheduled or Backward Castes, the Leader’s own son was nominated, turning a national party into a regional family enterprise. Even Sh. Randeep Singh Surjewala, four-term MLA and INC General Secretary, had to be nominated from Rajasthan due to factionalism. Later, Sh. Ajay Maken, INC Treasurer, lost the Rajya Sabha election from Haryana; another reflection of the leadership crisis. 2024 Assembly Elections During the Lok Sabha elections, Dalit voters overwhelmingly supported the INC, helping it secure five crucial seats. Yet, driven by arrogance and family interests, the State Leadership chose to marginalise Kumari Selja, a six-term MP and the tallest Dalit woman leader of the party. Instead of recognising her stature and contribution, the leadership allowed casteist remarks and derogatory videos against her to circulate and sidelined her loyal supporters and deserving candidates. The ensuing resentment led to a Dalit boycott of the INC — a clear rejection of a leadership disconnected from ground realities. Ticket Chori: Capable candidates were ignored, while tickets were sold to those with money. Election Chori: Close aides of the State Leadership altered narratives on multiple seats, fielding loyalists as “independent” candidates to ensure INC’s defeat. Senior leaders such as Capt. Ajay Yadav and Sh. Kuldeep Sharma continue to be insulted and sidelined, while the central leadership remains silent. The INC has been reduced to a personal fiefdom, where loyalty is rewarded with servitude and dissent with exile. From 2009 to 2024, no accountability has been fixed for the party’s continuous decline. No action has been taken against those responsible for “vote chori” or “ticket chori,” many of whom acted as the BJP’s “A-Team.” In 2005, under Sh. Bhajan Lal’s leadership, the INC won 67 seats. Since then, it has suffered one defeat after another. The people of Haryana feel betrayed and have lost faith in both the State and national leadership. After the 2024 defeat, Sh. Rahul Gandhi himself acknowledged that the State Leadership had prioritised personal interests over the party’s. Yet, once again, the same leadership was retained. Under these circumstances, I have lost faith in the ability of the Indian National Congress to represent the interests of the people of Haryana. As a proud Haryanvi, I cannot let my people down. My commitment to Haryana remains steadfast — but my faith in the current INC leadership does not. Therefore, I am constrained to tender my resignation from the Indian National Congress. Regards, Prof. Sampat Singh (Former Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Haryana Legislative Assembly) Date: 2nd November, 2025 CC: Sh. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha Sh. K.C. Venugopal, General Secretary, INC (Organisation) Sh. B.K. Hariprasad, General Secretary, INC (In-Charge of Haryana) Sh. Rao Narender, President, HPCC