Amarinder Singh formally resigns from Congress

Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday resigned from the Congress and also christened his newly launched party as Punjab Lok Congress.

He sent a seven-page resignation letter to party president Sonia Gandhi, sources said.

Singh had quit as the Punjab chief minister in September amid a bitter power tussle with state Congress chief Navjot Sidhu.

A few days ago, Singh had dismissed reports of back channel talks with the Congress as incorrect , saying the time for rapprochement was over and his decision to leave the grand old party was final.

He has indicated that he will float a political party ahead of Assembly polls in Punjab.