Amarinder Singh quits as Punjab Chief Minister

Punjab : Captain Amarinder Singh has announced his resignation from the post of Punjab Chief Minister and said that he has been "humiliated thrice" and that the Congress is free to "appoint whoever they trust".

Mr Singh told reporters that he has decided to resign this morning and has also conveyed her decision to the party chief Sonia Gandhi.

"I was humiliated three times by the Congress leadership in the past two months...they called the MLAs to Delhi twice and now convened CLP (MLAs' meeting) today (Saturday). Apparently they (Congress leadership) do not have confidence in me and did not think I could handle my job. But I felt humiliated at the manner in which they handled the whole affair... It's now up to them to appoint anyone they trust," Mr Singh said, flashing resentment that threatens to blow up for the Congress in the coming months.

Meanwhile, he has also hinted that he may part ways from Congress if required but for now he is with the party.

"There is always an option, and I will use that option when the time comes... at the moment I am still in Congress." He added that he would "speak to my people who have supported me for the past 52 years".

Mr Singh unsurprisingly skipped the MLAs' meet. Sources say over 50 MLAs had written to Sonia Gandhi demanding that the "Captain" be replaced as Chief Minister.