Rajasthan Finance Minister Chandan Mal Baid has resigned from the Council of Ministers.

Baid, a senior Congress politician in the state, told reporters in Jaipur that he had sent his resignation letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on January 14 and asked him to either accept it immediately or after the panchayat elections and assembly by-elections, which ended yesterday.

Though Gehlot refused to comment on the development, it is expected that he will accept Baid's plea and forward his resignation to the governor.

Baid, who has the rare distinction of having served as a minister in all Congress governments in the state since 1952, except the first one headed by Tikaram Paliwal, said there was no chance of withdrawing his resignation.

He gave no reason for his sudden step, but it is believed that Gehlot's style of functioning is the reason. The resignation is likely to have grave political consequences for the chief minister.

On a philosophical note Baid said Chief Minister invited me to join the ministery 14 months back. +mera man huwa to main shamil ho gaya. Ab man huwa to bahar aa gaya+ , He said Although, he said , I have yet to receive any communication from the Chief minister regarding my resignation but I consider myself relieved and stopping to attend office from today. After submitting his resignation letter to Chief Minister he also handed over a copy of the letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi in Delhi sources close to him said.EOM