In a significant development for Indian politics, former Union minister and senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad has officially resigned from the party's primary membership. The resignation comes at a crucial time - just three days before the announcement of election results in Bihar.
Timing and Political Implications
The veteran politician submitted his resignation on Tuesday, November 12, 2025, immediately after polling concluded for the second and final phase of elections. Ahmad, who previously served as Bihar Congress president and was considered one of the party's most prominent Muslim leaders in the state, revealed that he had made this decision earlier but delayed it to avoid impacting the party's electoral prospects.
"Though I had taken the decision to resign from the party sometime back, I did not want to resign before polling for the last phase as it could have affected the party," Ahmad told The Indian Express in an exclusive interview.
Reasons Behind the Resignation
When questioned about the specific reasons prompting his dramatic exit, the former MP pointed directly to his exclusion from crucial party decisions. "I was not made part of the decision-making process at any stage," Ahmad stated emphatically.
The political veteran didn't mince words when asked if his resignation was connected to Bihar AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru or Bihar state chief Rajesh Kumar. "Who else? They were in the saddle. I was not consulted on any matter," Ahmad responded, making his grievances clear about the current party leadership in Bihar.
Future Plans and Ideological Stance
Despite his resignation, Ahmad made it unequivocally clear that he has no intentions of joining any other political party. In his resignation letter addressed to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, the former minister expressed his continued ideological alignment with Congress principles.
"With a heavy heart, I have decided to resign from the membership of the Congress Party. My resignation does not mean that I will join another party. Indeed, I have no intention of doing so," Ahmad wrote in his emotional letter.
He further emphasized his family's historical connection to the party, stating: "Like my forefathers, I have complete faith in the ideology and principles of the Congress party, and I will forever remain a supporter of these ideologies and principles. I can assure you, the last vote of my life will also go to the Congress."
The resignation represents a significant blow to the Congress party in Bihar, particularly given Ahmad's stature as one of their tallest Muslim leaders and his extensive experience in both state and national politics.
