Didn’t deserve the way I was insulted: Former Bihar Congress chief Choudhary

Patna, Sep 27 (IANS) A day after he was removed as Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) chief, Ashok Choudhary on Wednesday said he felt "insulted" at the way in which he was ousted from the post without any prior intimation.

He also targeted All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary C.P. Joshi for "misleading" the party high command about the party's affairs in the state.

"I expected an honourable exit but feel insulted at the way I was removed. It is part of a conspiracy to install a particular leader as Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief," Choudhary told media in a choked voice here.

"The unceremonious ouster of a Dalit person, whose two generations have worked for the growth of Congress, is unfortunate and insulting. It is also an insult to the Dalit community," he said.

Choudhary said he welcomes the decision of the party but "I don't deserve the way I was insulted and removed from the post. I was willing to offer my resignation."

However, he thanked Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for allowing him to work as the state party chief for four and half years. "I will soon meet Rahul Gandhi to apprise him about my side of the story."

Choudhary refuted reports that he will say goodbye to the Congress and is likely to join the ruling JD-U of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "I am not going anywhere, I will fight against those who conspired against me within the party," he said.

He alleged that Joshi, the party's state in-charge, did not even have the courtesy to inform him "officially" of the high command's decision. "I came to know about my ouster from media reports," he said.

"Joshi had been putting pressure on me to quit as he wanted to make a particular person as state Congress chief. The party lost elections in Assam, Manipur and West Bengal because of his inefficiency and complacency. Joshi was hardly visible in Bihar during the elections. He is now bent upon weakening the party in Bihar," Choudhary said, adding he would continue to serve the party as a solider and struggle for its betterment.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday removed Choudhary as the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) chief with immediate effect.

The state unit Vice President Kaukab Quadri has been appointed as a working president of the party.

The Congress has 27 MLAs in the state. The party is part of the Grand Alliance with RJD of Lalu Prasad in Bihar.