Ashwani Kumar quits Cong,claims the party has lost touch with reality.

NEW DELHI: Ashwani Kumar, a former Union law minister, resigned from the Congress on Tuesday, ending a 46-year affiliation with the party.

On Tuesday morning, he submitted his resignation to Congresswoman Sonia Gandhi. Kumar can "better serve broader national concerns outside the Party-fold," according to the letter. "I intend to 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 wrote.

Kumar's letter also stated, "While paying my polite greetings, I thank you for the courtesy offered to me in the past and wish you good health in the years ahead."

Kumar further claimed that the Congress party has "lost touch with reality" and "no longer reflects the popular mood."

"Congress is no longer the party it once was... We don't have a leader who can alter and inspire the party... I have not retired from politics or from public service. I will continue to fulfil my responsibilities to the country "Kumar stated after submitting his resignation letter.

Kumar remarked on Tuesday that the results of the Punjab elections will surprise many people. 

RPN Singh resigned from the Congress, and Kumar followed suit.