Welcome party's decision, but I expected a graceful exit: Sacked Bihar Congress chief Ashok Choudhary

Patna: Ashok Choudhary, who was on Tuesday removed as the Bihar unit chief of the Congress, said on Wednesday that he was not given a graceful exit despite years of selfless service to the party.

As a committed Congressman, I have worked for the party for many years and expected an honourable exit, Choudhary told ANI.

I welcome the decision of Congress central leadership but regret the way I was shown the door, Choudhary said.

The reactions from Choudhary came a day after he was removed from the post, apparently on the instructions of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

"Congress President Sonia Gandhi has relieved Ashok Choudhary from the post of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief with immediate effect," AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said in a statement.

Choudhary was replaced by Kaukab Quadri, who was given the charge till the appointment of new BPCC chief.

The action against Choudhary was taken in view of reports of a possible split in the Bihar unit, which a section of the party alleged was being spearheaded by him.

Choudhary, however, categorically denied the charge. 

The Congress has 27 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar Assembly.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had met over 20 of the 27 party MLAs earlier this month and had sought their views on the party's functioning.

Importantly, Chaudhary did not come to Delhi for the meeting despite being summoned by the party leadership.

With PTI inputs