Amarinder Singh confirms exit from Congress

Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh confirmed his exit from the Congress party, nearly a week after his ouster as CM amid a protracted feud with bete noire Navjot Singh Sidhu, reports claimed. In an exclusive interview, Singh claimed that he is not joining the BJP, but was quitting the Congress.

Singh also said the Congress is going down in Punjab and called Sidhu a "childish man" given a serious job by the party, the publication reported. After his resignation, Singh had accused the Congress of "humiliating him". His immediate plans aren't known yet. There are speculations that he could float a brand new political outfit. Singh has been associated with the Congress for over four decades.

Singh, after a much-discussed meeting with Home Minster Amit Shah, had said that he discussed the prolonged farmers stir with him. He also met NSA Ajit Doval soon after. After his meeting that lasted for about 45 minutes, Singh tweeted: "Met Union Home Minister Amit Shahji in Delhi. Discussed the prolonged farmers' agitation against #FarmLaws & urged him to resolve the crisis urgently with the repeal of the laws & guarantee MSP, besides supporting Punjab in crop diversification. #NoFarmersNoFood."

Singh had also called Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra "inexperienced". He had also dubbed Sidhu as "anti-national" and "dangerous", saying he would pit a strong candidate against the state party chief in the upcoming assembly polls. He had indicated he was still keeping his political options open, adding that he was talking to his friends before deciding on his future course of action. "You can be old at 40 and young at 80," he had said, making it clear that he did not see his age as a hurdle.