The young leaders also called for the return of Rahul Gandhi to the presidency of the Congress, sources said. (Photo file)
New Delhi:
Sonia Gandhi’s meeting with congressmen on Thursday was marked by scathing arguments and criticism from young leaders who were seen to blame the party’s last government for its massive downfall since.
The fight between former Union ministers who were part of the Manmohan Singh government and leaders identified as members of Rahul Gandhi’s team has once again highlighted the rift in Congress since the party lost power to the BJP in 2014.
The young leaders reportedly said those in the last UPA government should take responsibility for the rapid decline of Congress. Some of them also called for the return of Rahul Gandhi to the presidency of the Congress, stressing that there was no consensus on any other candidate.
Manmohan Singh, the dual prime minister whose second term ended in a haze of allegations of corruption and political paralysis, did not say a word during the four-hour video meeting, sources said.
Rahul Gandhi stepped down as Congress leader after the party’s national electoral debacle last year, the second in a row. His mother Sonia Gandhi took over as interim leader until the party chose a new president. Over a year later, that hasn’t changed.
The clash reportedly started when veteran congressman Rajya Sabha expressed concern over the party’s inability to capitalize on issues that appear to have hampered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government this year, including the economic downturn, the response to coronaviruses and the dispute with China.
Senior leaders reportedly deemed the Congressional offensive too weak and disorganized to weaken support for Prime Minister Modi. They suggested that there be more soul-searching and consultation.
As Rahul Gandhi led this offensive, with daily videos and tweets, the young MPs opposed. Rajiv Satav, 45, is said to have said that “full soul-searching” was necessary after Congress was defeated in 2014.
Former Union Minister Kapil Sibal said, according to sources: “We need a full soul-searching, yes. The BJP government has performed poorly and needs to be attacked, but we have to look at ourselves and see how we we behaved. There is no debate, no discussion. within the party and we have to analyze why the leadership has failed. “
Party elders questioned the lack of discussion, debate and consultation.
Mr Satav noted that this was not a war between the Old Guard and the New Guard. “We have to analyze the role of Congress during the period of the PAU, why did the ministers not meet the workers and why they lost touch with reality. Why did the party fail in Maharashtra and Delhi, ”he said.
He was among those who called for the return of Rahul Gandhi at a time when young leaders appear to be abandoning Congress. In March, Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP, overthrowing the Congressional government in Maharashtra.
Now Sachin Pilot has launched a revolt that threatens the congressional government of Rajasthan.
Both were part of Rahul Gandhi’s tight circle.
