Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 8: Disappointed with the Congress for not giving Lok Sabha election ticket to a member of the Christian community, former MP H T Sangliana has quit the Congress, both as the vice-president of KPCC and from its primary membership.

In his resignation letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Sangliana said, "I cherish the moments that we have spent together in parliament in the past. I have selflessly worked for the party since 2008, and today I feel sad that the Congress party has lost its focus and neglected the minority Christian community.

"I am deeply pained by the this indifferent attitude towards the Christian community and had conveyed the feelings of Christians in Karnataka to Priyanka Gandhi a year ago as per your (Rahul Gandhi's) directions when you were campaigning in Madhya Pradesh.

"Today, not even a single seat among 28 from Karnataka is given to the Christian community. The state Congress leadership, as well the high command, has completely sidelined the Christians, and pro-rata representations has not been considered during the allocation of parliamentary tickets from INC," he wrote.

A former director general of police (DGP), Sangliana had been aspirant for the Lok Sabha ticket from Bengaluru Central or Bengaluru North. When he was denied the ticket, he had convened a press conference and threatened to contest as an independent. However, ultimately, he decided to remain silent and did not file nomination.

Both Bengaluru North and Bengaluru Central have a big number of voters from the minority communities, especially Christians. Sangliana's resignation may have an adverse impact on Congress' prospects, say sources.