Congress won't send spokespersons on TV channel debates for a month

As the second Modi Cabinet takes charge today after a grand swearing-in ceremony, the main Opposition Congress Party today formally announced its spokespersons would go off air for a month, a move comes amid post-poll chaos in the Grand Old Party along side Rahul Gandhi's insistence on quitting.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted, "@INCIndia has decided to not send spokespersons on television debates for a month. All media channels/editors are requested to not place Congress representatives on their shows".

The move is seen as immediate fallout out of two things; due to the complete confusion prevailing in the party and the leadership there is no clarity on official party position on sensitive internal issues including whether Rahul Gandhi will actually quit or will he retract, finally.



Secondly, AICC feels it's better to keep the spokespersons/ -- most of them are not in Congress decision-making mechanisms -- out of TV debates, in this circumstances, when they are not in a position to defend or articulate party line with clarity. Equally, the leadership doesn't want some of these spokespersons ending up giving "ideas and suggestions" to Gandhi and leadership through TV talk shows.

For now, there will be only official briefing from AICC podium, which takes place almost daily. The fact AICC has officially taken spokespersons off air for a month also indicates confusion lingering for a longer period.