NEW DELHI, Dec 9: A son of former Indian prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri who fought the 1965 war with Pakistan, Mr Sunil Shastri, on Wednesday resigned from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mr Shastri said in a letter to BJP President Lal Krishan Advani that he was resigning from the primary membership of the party but did not specify any reason. Mr Shastri met Mr Advani at his residence and handed over his resignation, UNI said.

The former Rajya Sabha member said he would announce his future plans on Friday and refused to talk on the issue. UNI said Mr Shastri was feeling marginalized as the BJP had not given him any major responsibility. He is the elder brother of Congress general secretary Anil Shastri. Their father Lal Bahadur Shastri was Indian prime minister during the 1965 war with Pakistan.