“Good luck and goodbye Congress,” former Punjab unit chief Sunil Jakhar said on Saturday as he announced his decision to quit the party that last month removed him from all positions for alleged anti-party activities.

The 68-year-old, whose decision comes as the electorally battered party discusses the way forward during a three-day Chintan Shivir in Udaipur, went live on Facebook to make the announcement.

“It is my parting gift to the party. These are my last words to Congressmen. Good luck and goodbye Congress,” Jakhar said, adding that it was the end of an association that spanned 50 years and three generations.

“You broke (my) heart,” Jakhar said.

During his “dil ki baat” on Facebook, Jakhar said the Udaipur meeting was nothing more than a formality and should have been a “chinta shivir” instead of a “chintan shivir”, more about “worry” than “introspection”.

Offering advice to Rahul Gandhi, Jakhar said the former party chief should learn to make a distinction between friend and foe. He urged Rahul, whom he described as “very fine and upright”, to stay away from sycophants.

Jakhar, a three-time MLA, attacked some leaders “sitting in Delhi”, particularly Ambika Soni. Jakhar was among the front-runners for the Punjab chief minister’s post after Amarinder Singh was unseated last year. But Jakhar’s chances were scuttled after Soni said the party should go with a Sikh face.