Rahul Gandhi applauds satraps; Calls UP a routine loss

NEW DELHI: The Congress leadership is witnessing by-now-familiar post-defeat rumblings with a few second rung leaders seeking changes in the AICC, repeating terms such as “cardiac surgery,” even while avoiding criticism of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

On his part, Gandhi tried to describe the debacle as part of the “usual ups and downs in Opposition.” Talking about the Congress debacle in UP, where he led the strategy, Rahul Gandhi said: “In Opposition, you have ups and downs. We had a little down in UP, we accept it.” Gandhi further said the Congress victory in Punjab and good show in Goa and Manipur showed Congress had good regional leaders. Responding to questions Gandhi said there could be changes in AICC set-up but refused to say when.

AICC General Secretary BK Hariprasad, meanwhile, quit, taking responsibility for the Congress debacle in the Odisha civic polls.”


It remains to be seen whether more will follow or will leave it to Gandhis to decide on the future course of AICC restructuring. And the man standing tall with his win in Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, said it was high time for Rahul Gandhi to take over as party president.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi told the media that there was a need for a “cardiac surgery” in the party. When asked whether he meant changes should be made in the Congress Working Committee and the All India Congress Committee, he said, “what will happen if they make changes now? They didn’t do it when it was required.”

Veerappa Moily favoured “decentralisation in the party” but was not ready to target the Gandhis. Renuka Chaudhary felt it would be wrong to blame Rahul Gandhi. Sandeep Dikshit wanted the leadership to come forward and explain the reasons for the defeat did not blame Rahul Gandhi or sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the poor show in UP.