Gujarat Congress sees dissent over poll losses

Ahead of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session in Ahmedabad on April 8-9, rumblings are growing within the party over a steady erosion following repeated electoral debacles.

Former Congress legislator and spokesperson Manhar Patel has shot a message to the party high command pointing out that as many as 75 senior Congress leaders have parted ways with the party over the past two decades, with many of them holding the state leadership responsible.

"Someone deviating from the ideology is acceptable but if someone leaves being disgruntled with the state Congress leadership, then it's a serious issue," Patel said.


He has sought a "high-level enquiry" into the exodus and penal action on the leaders responsible for the development.

Speaking to ET, Patel said that with the senior members joining the BJP in droves, the party is now facing a credibility crisis at the grassroots. "Whenever we go to campaign for a candidate, people bluntly ask what's the guarantee that the candidate will not join the BJP in some days, and we are left with no answer," he said.