By Abhijit Roy
The superficial pride is shown in the Congress after the leak of a letter written by 23 senior Congress leaders demanding a change in the party organization, whether real or part of the strategy, is ultimately going to benefit the party.
Despite a resounding victory in three states in the year 2018, the party did not get as much discussion at the national level as it got from this controversy. In the last few days, the campaign of unity in the party and the continuation of permanent leadership from Sonia Gandhi, its implications are no different.
In the marathon meeting of the Congress Working Committee held on Monday, it was decided to hold the interim Presidential post of Sonia Gandhi and to call an AICC meeting for the election of the new president in the next six months. On Monday, Rahul Gandhi’s alleged statement on the connivance of the leaders of the opposition between the Congress Working Committee and the reaction of senior leaders to it was called a byproduct of the media by evening.
Then these leaders also started supporting statements of the party leadership. The protesting leaders withdrew their tweets. The Congress Working Committee meeting on Monday was called to discuss the situation after the letter written by 23 veteran leaders to Sonia Gandhi leaked in the media. The letter bears the signatures of veterans like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Bhupendra Singh Hooda, Shashi Tharoor, Kapil Sibal, Prithviraj Chavan, Anand Sharma, who have held important positions in the party. There has been speculation about the letter of these leaders who are loyal to the Gandhi family, whether it was written for change given the decline in the credibility of the party or to create an environment friendly to the Gandhi family for a leadership change.
However, the recent controversy has given rise to many questions. Are there differences in the issue of leadership in the party? Is there a possibility of collective leadership in the party? Is there a possibility of leadership in the Congress at present without the Gandhi family? Because of the party’s position in the Lok Sabha elections in the year 2019, the intention of resignation given by Rahul Gandhi for change is being fulfilled? Is the current campaign preparing the ground for the coronation of Rahul Gandhi?
At the Congress Working Committee meeting on Monday, Sonia Gandhi was urged to hold the post till the next decision, which she also accepted. Chief Ministers and Congress MPs of different states were running similar campaigns. The MPs had expressed their solidarity by writing a letter to Sonia Gandhi. At the same time, he had urged that till Rahul Gandhi takes over as the President, he should remain the President. At the same time, it has been alleged that those who are talking about the change of leadership are playing in the hands of BJP and weakening the party.
It was evident from this campaign that the leaders and workers of the party were talking about strengthening the leadership of the Gandhi family. That too at a time when Sonia Gandhi’s term as acting president of the Congress has been completed for a year. It is being speculated that this time is being given to Rahul Gandhi to prepare his team.
The veteran Congress leaders think that the unity of the party is possible only at the hands of the Gandhi family. Despite this, there is no shortage of experienced and tall leaders in the party. Political pundits say that when a party is going through a difficult time, the voices of contradiction are natural in the party.� ��
(Abhijit Roy is a columnist. He can be reached at [email protected])