Rahul Gandhi out as Congress chief? Party hints at change in leadership

Several senior Congress leaders are openly airing their views about change in party leadership after debacle in assembly elections.

New Delhi, March 15: After the Congress' humiliating defeat in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand assembly elections, followed by missing the opportunity to form governments in Goa and Manipur, several Congress leaders have openly voiced their discontentment against the party's top leadership in the last few days.

Senior leaders of the Congress including Renuka Chowdhury had raised questions over the party's top leadership in handling elections and results. Many also suggest that the party leadership might be handed over to a non-Gandhi. Currently, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is at the helm of party affairs.

On Wednesday, a senior Congress leader told ANI that talks of change in leadership is on. "We are hearing about the possibility of change in leadership in the party. But it is yet to take place. If it happens now then it will be for the good of the Congress. (Sunte toh aa rahe hain ki badlaav hoga, abhi tak toh hua nahi. Ab hoga toh derr aaye durust aaye)," Satyavrat Chaturvedi of the Congress told ANI.

He added that the Congress should have a chief who has got good understanding of 'grassroot-level politics'. "Those persons should be brought in who do grassroot-level politics (Woh log laye jayen jo log zameen se judi rajneeti karna jante hon)." Chaturvedi said that the Congress needs to change its condition and direction. "I don't think it is a big defeat, we can make a comeback."

Even son of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, Sandeep, had suggested change in the party leadership. On Tuesday, an angry Chowdhury called Goa loss 'stupid' and demanded sacking of Digvijaya Singh from the Congress.

Singh is in charge of the Goa Congress. In spite of winning 17 seats (highest) in the recent assembly polls, the party lost the number game to the Bharatiya Janata Party as the saffron party formed its government in the coastal state on Tuesday. A similar situation happened in Manipur. In Manipur elections, the Congress won 28 seats (highest), but the BJP is set to form its government on Wednesday.

OneIndia News