New Delhi: Former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar today resigned from the Congress, ending his 46-year-long association with the grand old party.

In his resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, shared by news agencies, Kumar wrote, ‘Having given my thoughtful consideration to the matter, I have concluded that in the present circumstances and consistent with my dignity, I can best subserve larger national cause outside the party fold.’

He also said he ‘hoped to proactively pursue public causes inspired by the idea of transformative leadership, based on the dignitarian promise of a liberal democracy envisioned by our freedom fighters.’ He said the party does not reflect national mood.

The Congress has seen a string of exits by leaders, including its youth faces – among them the likes of Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, R P N Singh. , Sushmita Dev, Priyanka Chaturvedi and Laliteshpati Tripathi – in the last two years.

Kumar leaves in the midst of assembly polls in five states and ahead of the 20 February election in Punjab.