In a major setback to the Congress, senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned from the party with sharp jabs at the Gandhis and the organisational leadership.

In a letter addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Azad cited the sidelining of senior leaders and the increasing sway of a "coterie of inexperienced sycophants" as the reasons behind his exit from the party.

The former Rajya Sabha MP also lashed out at Rahul Gandhi, blaming his "immaturity" for the Congress's dwindling political clout and poor performance in elections.

The development comes after Azad quit the post of the head of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress campaign committee on August 16.