New Delhi, India—Former MP and senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on Thursday, withdrew his nomination from the North East Delhi primary, just two days after he threw his hat in the ring.
Tytler withdrew after the party leadership reportedly convinced him to do so in a fear of facing opposition from the Sikh community. He is the main perpetrator of the mass killing of Sikh civilians in the November 1984 Sikh genocide in Delhi after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India.
His candidature was withdrawn also by the party during the last Lok Sabha polls due to protests over his role in the Sikh genocide.
Party sources said it would have become embarrassing had Mr. Tytler, by any chance, emerged victorious in the primary.
“The legal position in the case is one facet of the whole issue. He might cite legal proceedings, but the bigger problem is the perception built around him about his alleged role in the Sikh Massacre. Moreover, several important developments have taken place over the past few months, including Rahul Gandhi’s statement on the involvement of party workers in the massacre. The party would not like to reignite the issue at this stage,” said a Congress leader on the condition of anonymity.
