Guwahati, June 29: Former Congress MLA Hiranya Bora and a senior member, Diganta Kalita, today resigned from the party, accusing the PCC president, Anjan Dutta, of insulting them and dishonouring their contribution to the party.

The resignation came in less than a week after the Assam PCC served showcause notices to Bora and Kalita for their alleged derogatory comments against Dutta in the media.

They had been asked to reply to the notices by tomorrow.

"Dutta does not know how to respect seniors in the party. I was very hurt when Dutta, in a recent media conference, accused me of trying to blackmail the party. I have been associated with the Congress for over five decades. I represented the party as an MLA four times. But when I recently raised certain questions, including the criminal background of some current leaders of the PCC for the greater interest of the party, Dutta punished me by slapping a showcause notice," Bora told reporters here this morning.

On June 20, Bora demanded Dutta's resignation for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.

Bora, who has not been inducted in the new executive committee of the PCC, also questioned Dutta's educational qualifications.

Today's development is another embarrassment for the ruling party, which is already struggling with internal bickering that started with dissident activities led by former health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Sarma even marched to Raj Bhavan in July last year, demanding the dismissal of chief minister Tarun Gogoi. He resigned from Gogoi's ministry after the march.

Bora refrained from making any comment against Gogoi. However, he said he did not lodge a complaint against Dutta before Gogoi as it would be a "futile" exercise. "The chief minister will not act and let things be as they are," he said.

Besides Bora and Kalita, the PCC recently also served a showcause notice to former Lok Sabha member Bolin Kuli and two other senior members, Rana Khan and Adil Shah, for their public criticism of Dutta and questioning his educational qualifications.

Bora said he has nothing against the Congress as a party and that he was leaving it with a heavy heart. According to Bora, he is quitting because he was fed up with the way Dutta is running the party.

On the possibility of forming a new party, Bora said he would take a call when such a situation arises.

"I will continue to work for the party," he said.

Diganta Kalita said he and Bora have sent copies of their resignation letters through email to the PCC as well the AICC.

A PCC functionary said the party has not received any email till this evening.

He also said the PCC president would not respond to the development immediately and wait for replies of the showcause notices.

"Dutta is expected to react to the development on Thursday," he said.