Raj Babbar resigns as UP Congress president after debacle in UP bypoll

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Raj Babbar has resigned for his post reportedly taking responsibility for the abysmal performance of the party in the recent UP bypoll elections to Lok Sabha seats in Gorakhpur and Phulpur.

The bypoll dealt a shock to both BJP and Congress as the unexpected alliance of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party played spoilsport at the last minute. For the Congress, it was more humiliating than ever.

Party president Rahul Gandhi has asked veteran leaders to give way to younger politicians in the party and reportedly the resignation of Raj Babbar in UP and Shantaram Naik in Goa comes close on the heels of such move in other states including Gujarat where the Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki’s name is being taken out.

Solanki, however, said, "There is no truth in speculation that I have resigned today".