Congress closed ranks within hours after former minister for environment Jayanthi Natarajan quit the party, making allegations against party vice president Rahul Gandhi. Several party leaders issued hard-hitting statements against their former colleague, while party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi came out guns blazing against her from the official podium.

Mr. Singhvi accused her of acting at the behest of her "new political masters" to add some "artificial masala" in the Delhi elections as the "ground slips from beneath the feet" of those who coined the phrase "Jayanthi tax".

As former Union minister of state for environment Jayanti Natarajan's letter blew up in the party's face, the Congress said she had been removed from the ministry because of serious allegations against her.

Asked why -- in that case -- no case was registered against Ms. Natarajan by the UPA Government, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi sought to draw a distinction between proveable allegations and serious allegations. "Maybe her new political masters have got some evidence which is being used to pressurise her.

Source: TH