10 Nov 2010

Delhi Games boss steps down from party

6:35 am on 10 November 2010

The chief organiser of the Delhi Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi, has stepped down from a senior post in India's ruling Congress party amid a probe into alleged corruption around the event.

Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi would not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding Kalmadi's exit.

However the chairman of the Games organising committee has borne the brunt of public criticism for the soaring costs, shoddy planning, and graft allegations that tainted the October event.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set up a panel last month to investigate the corruption charges.

Kalmadi, 66, is a veteran MP from the Congress party, and has headed the Indian Olympic Association for 14 years.