Congress leader and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh Monday announced his resignation from the party.
The MP made the announcement at a rally in Haryana's Rewari district, about 55 km from here, organised on the occasion of the day on which the martyrdom of Rao Tula Ram, one of the key leaders from the state of the First War of Indian Independence of 1857, is observed.
Singh's exit from the party was expected after he had openly turned against his party chief and the Haryana government by demanding "a thorough probe" into the land deals of Robert Vadra, party chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law.
Gurgaon Mayor Vimal Yadav, along with dozens of Congress party's office bearers, was on the stage and all extended their full support to Rao.
Addressing the rally, Rao said that it was time to say goodbye to the Congress after it ruled the country for more than 35 years.
He said his family supported late Indira Gandhi and the Congress at the time when she was facing a tough time in politics. His father Rao Birender Singh merged his Haryana Vishal Party with the Congress in 1978 with 27 legislators.
More From This Section
"I kept a lot of patience but now its impossible to tolerate any more. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has crossed all the limits of bias against south Haryana in implementing development projects and government jobs," he said.
He also apologised to the people for supporting Hooda and his camp on earlier occasion.
He also challenged Hooda to fight election against him from Gurgaon.
"Hooda claimed that he had done a lot of development work in south Haryana and allegations of bias against him were wrong. Let both of us resign and fight a Lok Sabha election from Gurgaon. The public will decide the truth," Rao said.
He lashed out at legislators from south Haryana for playing into Hooda's hand for their small selfish profits.
He said that several functions were organised in Rao Tula Ram stadium but Haryana ministers never mentioned the name of martyr Rao Tula Ram in their speeches. The latest programme organised by the state government was on Aug 15.
Rao had formed a new outfit, Haryana Insaf Manch (HIM), at a huge public rally organised in Pataudi March 3.
He has been attacking Hooda for bias against people of south Haryana in allotting development projects.
The south Haryana belt includes Gurgaon, Faridabad, Mewat, Palwal, Rewari, Mahendergarh and Bhiwani districts.
Rao was a legislator in the Haryana assembly for four terms, beginning 1977. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998 and has served in the parliaments of 1998-1999, 2000-04 and 2004-09.