Former Rajasthan minister Vishvendra Singh announces Congress exit

Former Rajasthan Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh has announced that he is leaving the Congress, two days after criticising the party’s state leadership over the recent urban local body elections. Singh, a former Deeg-Kumher legislator, announced the decision in a social media post on Friday. He said he had acted according to his conscience and had been hurt by statements made by some party leaders.

He said he had devoted his life to the Congress but could no longer continue with what he described as “wrong policies”. Singh also said he would not support what he considered wrong or false, adding that self-respect was important to him. There was no immediate confirmation from the Congress on whether Singh had formally submitted his resignation.

His announcement came amid an increasingly public dispute with sections of the Rajasthan unit. Singh had blamed the party’s Bharatpur and Deeg district presidents for its civic-election performance. He alleged that tickets had been given to favourites while genuine party workers were overlooked.

He later demanded the resignation of state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and called for an investigation into allegations involving recruitment examinations and benefits allegedly received by members of Dotasra’s family. Dotasra rejected suggestions of a rift on Thursday, describing reports of internal differences as part of what he called the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “toolkit”. He said there was no discord within the Congress.

Singh served as tourism minister in the previous Ashok Gehlot government. He contested the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly election but lost.