Caught in a web of intra-party politicking, Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar abruptly quit the Congress Party here on Tuesday.

"I have resigned from the Indian National Congress," said Urmila in a terse statement on her decision.

Citing petty politics as the reason, Urmila Matondkar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI, "My political and social sensibilities refuse to allow vested interests in the party to use me as a mean to fight petty in-house politics instead of working on a bigger goal in Mumbai Congress." "To my utter dismay, the letter containing privileged and confidential communication was conveniently leaked to the media which according to me was an act of blatant betrayal. Needless to say, no one from the party was apologetic or even concerned towards me for the same despite my repeated protests," Urmila Matondkar said in her statement.

Recommended Read: Neither I nor my husband have been able to speak to his parents based in Kashmir since 22 days: Urmila Matondkar on Article 370 abrogation

An articulate and popular actress, she had joined the Congress on March 27 this year and later contested the Mumbai North Lok Sabha elections unsuccessfully against Bharatiya Janata Party MP Gopal Shetty. Despite the debacle, she remained a high-profile leader who weathered many a storm including the resignation of Rahul Gandhi as Congress President, followed by a string of changes in the Mumbai Congress.

(Source: IANS/ANI)