<span style="color: #222222;">Ahead of Punjab assembly polls, former Union Minister and Congress leader Ashwani Kumar has resigned from the party. Mr. Kumar, who is from Punjab, has sent his resignation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.  <br />''<br />''He said, having given his thoughtful consideration to the matter, he has concluded that in the present circumstances and consistent with his dignity, he can best subserve larger national causes outside the party-fold.</span><br />