Home Minister P Chidambaram today ruled out his resignation in the wake of Madras High Court decision in the election petition against him saying the verdict was not a setback for him but for his rival.

The Home minister also ridiculed the demand for his resignation by BJP President Nitin Gadkari and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha saying he was astonished by their monumental ignorance. Reacting to the demands of the opponents, Mr. Chidambaram asked, whether those who demand his resignation do not have criminal case, do not have charges and have not been questioned under Criminal Procedure Code?.

He said, he was astonished by the monumental ignorance displayed by certain political leaders.

The Home minister clarified that it is an election petition and there are 111 election petitions filed against members of the 15th Lok Sabha.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had declined Chidambaram's plea for dismissal of the election petition against him by the losing AIADMK candidate R S Rajakannappan in Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu in 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

The High court also struck down two paras in Rajakannappan's petition containing allegations against returning officer, the government and bank officials.