The Congress’s former Haryana chief, Ashok Tanwar, resigned from the primary membership of the party on Saturday in a major blow to the party in the state.

Tanwar announced his resignation on Twitter and posted a four-page resignation letter addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. In it, he said: “(The) Congress is going through existential crises, not because of its political opponents but because of serious internal contradiction.

“I after several months of consideration tender my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress party, which I nurtured from my sweat and blood. My fight is not personal but against the system which is destroying the grand old party.”

The reasons for his resignation are well known to all members of the Congress, Tanwar maintained, adding that he had taken the decision after long deliberations with party workers.

Tanwar had revolted against the party leadership alleging irregularities and corruption in the selection of candidates for the October 21 Haryana Assembly elections and had openly protested outside the Congress chief's 10 Janpath residence on Wednesday. He was miffed with the party since he was removed as the Haryana Congress chief.