PC Chacko rules out joining BJP after quitting Congress ahead of Kerala polls

He said the idea of joining any "communal party" was unacceptable to him.

He also made it clear that although the decision was close to the Kerala election on April 6, he saw no option but to quit the Congress.

"This was the only option before me. I was not in the party for any position but I want job satisfaction. Being in a democratic party was my satisfaction. When our opinions are heard, when we are part of the decision-making, the satisfaction pushes us to work," Chacko, 74, told NDTV.

On being asked if he was joining the BJP, Chacko said: "Not at all. I categorically rule out joining any other party. BJP is totally an unacceptable proposition for me. I am in the Congress because it is a secular party. I can't even imagine joining a communal party like BJP," he said, cautiously noncommittal about his next steps."

Asked whether his reasons truly justified quitting his party of four decades, he replied: "This is sufficient reason to quit according to my conscience. When we are not part of decision-making, then we have no role in the party. If a democratic discussion is not happening, it is a dead party."

Last year, Chacko resigned as the AICC in-charge of Delhi.

Two years ago, he was accused of sidelining former Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit in intense infighting in the Delhi Congress.