2022 Poll debacle: Everyone is culprit except Gandhis

Only this Tuesday, the Congress communication department head Randeep Surjewala tweeted, “Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has asked the PCC Presidents of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa & Manipur to put in their resignations in order to facilitate reorganisation of PCC’s.”

Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has asked the PCC Presidents of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa & Manipur to put in their resignations in order to facilitate reorganisation of PCC’s.

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 15, 2022

So, we have a clear verdict- everyone including the five state Presidents were responsible for the Congress defeat in the recent Assembly polls. Who wasn’t responsible? Yes, you got it right- the Nehru-Gandhi family.

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State party Presidents forced to step down

While submitting their resignations, UPCC chief Lallu took moral responsibility for the defeat and said that he would keep working for the party. Similarly, Goa PCC chief Chodankar also “accepted failure”. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand PCC chief Godiyal too announced his resignation.

On the other hand, Navjot Singh Sidhu tweeted, “As desired by the Congress President I have sent my resignation …” The resignation letter that he posted on his Twitter timeline simply states, “I hereby reisgn as President (P.P.C.C.).”

As desired by the Congress President I have sent my resignation … pic.twitter.com/Xq2Ne1SyjJ

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) March 16, 2022

Cosmetic changes

Meanwhile, Indian Express has quoted an unnamed senior party leader as saying, “It is just a cosmetic exercise. What the party needed was a clinical surgery. What about the in-charges and general secretaries? They should all go. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has not resigned, neither has Harish Chaudhary or Devender Yadav.” While Vadra is the party general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary is the main in-charge of Punjab and Yadav the subsequent in-charge of Uttarakhand.

No big changes ahead

It seems unlikely that there will be any big changes, as opposed to the ‘cosmetic’ changes inside the party. Recently, for example, senior leader Kapil Sibal was asked if he believed that “it is time for the Gandhis to step aside?” Sibal replied, “I cannot talk on behalf of others. It is purely my personal view that today at least I want a ‘sab ki Congress’. Some others want a ‘Ghar ki Congress’. I certainly don’t want a ‘Ghar ki Congress’. And I will fight for a ‘sab ki Congress’ till my last breath.”

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However, the former Union Minister was soon in the firing line. Another senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “Kapil Sibal kahan k neta hain mujhe pata nahi. He got many advancements because of the Congress party. Things were good when he was a minister in the UPA govt now when UPA is not in power he is feeling bad.” Chowdhury also said, “He should set an example that he can do something without our support, fight for his ideology on their own, otherwise what is the outcome of just giving interviews while sitting in an AC room”.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge too said that Kapil Sibal “may be a good lawyer but he is not a good leader of the party.” Kharge added, “He never went to any village to work for the party. He is deliberately trying to weaken the party. No one can weaken Sonia Gandhi or the Congress party.” The point is that no opinion blaming lack of change in central leadership is being taken kindly. The State unit Presidents had to resign and it seems as if they are being made the scapegoats for the poll debacle. However, the Nehru-Gandhi family remains ‘scot free’ as far as the Indian National Congress is concerned.