The Congress has suffered a jolt in Maharashtra ahead of the October 13 assembly election with the resignation of Prataprao Bhosle, a former chief of the party's state unit.

Bhosle's son, Madan, has decided to contest as an independent against the official Congress candidate in Wai in Satara district.

"I have resigned from the Congress on moral grounds as my son has decided to contest as an independent...my conscience does not allow me to be in the party when my son is contesting as an independent," Bhosle said.

The former MPCC chief, however, clarified he had 'no grudge' against the party.

It was under Bhosle's leadership that the party bagged 75 seats in the 1999 assembly polls, three months after Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar parted ways with the Congress and formed the Nationalist Congress Party.

The Congress and NCP are now allies both in the state and at the Centre.

There is resentment among the Congressmen in western Maharashtra, where the NCP has walked away with over half the seats. 

The rebel Congressmen are now contemplating forming a front to take on the NCP candidates in western Maharashtra.