Former Mayor Ashraf quits Congress, rejoins, quits, joins, quits, joins, quits…

Mr Ashraf, who had played the resignation cards at least four times in last couple of years for different reasons, now once again decided to bid adieu to the party, following the appointment of S M Rashid Haji as the new chairman of Dakshina Kannada Waqf Advisory Committee.

On Tuesday night Mr Ashraf conveyed his latest decision to minister for environment, forest, ecology and DK district in-charge B Ramanath Rai, who also holds the position of District Congress president, over phone. Later, he formally sent in his resignation papers to Rai and KPCC President G Parameshwara, by fax.

Holding party leadership in the district responsible for appointing “an outsider” as the chairman of the Waqf Committee, Mr Ashraf said that such move not only would hurt the party workers who have stood by the party in the thick and thin of political developments, but also create rift within the party.

Stating that Rashid Haji has done nothing to the Congress party except being a well-wisher, Mr Ashraf said that there are many active members in the district Congress, who deserve the post.

Mr Ashraf also recalled that when BJP government was in power in the state, they had appointed a party worker as the head of Wakf Board.

It could be recalled here that Mr Ashraf had formally resigned from the party many a times for different reasons including alleged “dictatorship” of party stalwart B Janadhan Poojary and lack of support from the party leaders. However, he had subsequently reentered the party following negotiations.

“I will reconsider my resignation only if the party reconsiders its decision over Rashid Haji,” said Mr Ashraf when asked whether he would return to the party once again.