Brand Gandhi takes a beating: From Deora to Brar, leaders swipe at Sonia, Rahul

Congress party is at its worst time these days. Right from National Herald case to Natwar Singh's book controversy, the Gandhi family's cup of woes will not get over any time soon, it seems. Jagmeet Singh Brar, former Congress Working Committee member on Friday said that both Gandhi duo, Sonia and Rahul should take two-year break after humiliating defeat in recent Lok Sabha poll.

"Poll debacle is a collective responsibility. Everybody has to take responsibility. What I am saying is that if a person has remained party President for so many years, there is no harm if he or she takes a cool off period for two years. "I am also saying that Congress President has contributed her best. But if she leaves the post for two years as a cool off period, she will be more acceptable later on," Brar said.

Here is the timeline of some of the recent scathing statements by party leaders, holding Sonia, Rahul Gandhi responsible for poll fiasco.

Milind Deora
Blaming Rahul Gandhi and his coterie for biggest rout in Lok Sabha, Former Union minister Milind Deora said, "Rahul Gandhi's advisors did not have their ears to the ground and those with no electoral experience were calling the shots".

Digvijaya Singh
Senior Congress leader whose proximity with Gandhi family is well known raised question mark over Rahul Gandhi's governing capability. The leader said, "He is by temperament not a ruling person. He is by temperament someone who wants to fight injustice". Though he later clarified the statement but till then enough damage was already been done.

T H Mustafa
Senior Congress leader and former Minister was suspended from the party when he said, "Rahul behaved like a joker and that's the reason why the Congress suffered a major reversal in the Lok Sabha polls. The role of a Prime Minister is not child's play and the people knew it and handed out the worst defeat to the Congress party".

Shankar Singh Vaghela
Vaghela, the Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, slammed the junior Gandhi for rout in Lok Sabha poll. He said that his team mustn't be blamed when the members were chosen by Rahul Gandhi only.

Former MP Gufran Azam
Blaming directly Gandhi scion for worst performance Azam said, "Rahul thought Youth Congress is a lab and did experiments and destroyed it. He did the same with the Congress."
Questioning over his leadership skill he said, "Hum toh thak gaye sun sun ke, koi use pappu bolta hai, koi munna bolta hai, sharam aati hai. (We are tired of hearing people addressing Rahul Gandhi as 'Pappu' and 'Munna' and feel ashamed)."

A K Antony
Blaming minority appeasement politics of party the reason for poll defeat, Veteran Congress leader and former Defence Minister A K Antony had said, "Some sections of society have an impression that the party is inclined to certain communities or organisations. People have doubt whether that policy is being implemented or not".

Rahul Gandhi was found napping in LS

There is long list of the people who have openly criticised party and it's leadership but most agonising is the fact that criticism has not make congress' ‘boss' (Sonia Gandhi) tizzy. Not even a single step has been taken by party high command to make radical change in the working style of the party.

Recently only Rahul Gandhi was seen napping in Parliament while serious discussion was going on in august House. Is this the way party's top most leader should act? Rahul hardly participated in discussions during 15th Lok Sabha and looks to be doing the same in the ongoing 16th Lok Sabha as well. His leadership skill is pathetic and that has been proved time and again.
As Assembly in major States like Maharashtra and Haryana is due, It is high time the Gandhi scion must wakes up from deep slumber and take party's rein in his hand. Otherwise party will meet similar fate as it in Lok Sabha poll and then it will really be onerous task to defend. More such salvo will be fired upon then.