Karnataka: Congress downplays Sharrief's resignation

Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal on Saturday played down the resignation of senior party leader C K Jaffer Sharrief, saying he was member of the  Congress family.

Sibal expressed hope that the issue would be sorted out and Sharrief would not do anything to harm the Congress family.

Sharrief, a Congress veteran, had tendered his resignation from the party on Saturday as he was allegedly upset over his grandson's omission from the final list of candidates for the forthcoming Karnataka assembly elections.

However, the party high command did not accept the resignation and summoned him to New Delhi instead.

When queried why Sharrief had resigned from the party at such a crucial time, Sibal said that he was nobody to comment on the Karnata leader's wisdom. But he expressed hope that the whole issue will be sorted out and Sharrief would return to the party.

Sibal also urged the people to vote for the Congress and not the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Janata Dal – Secular, who had demonstrated several political somersaults.

He also listed out the achievements of the party during S M Krishna's regime, while adding that the Congress was the only party that would ensure stability and development in Karnataka.