Rethink high-command culture, says Karti Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: In a politically-loaded observation against Congress’ ‘highcommand culture’, AICC member and son of ex-Union minister P Chidambaram, Karti Chidambaram, has underlined the need for Congress state units to start functioning with more autonomy by unshackling the tendency of AICC observers to control them.

If the Tamil Nadu Congress unit were to become more proactive to keep pace with the dynamics of state politics, it can’t anymore wait for Delhi’s leadership to show the path ahead, Karti added.

“The Tamil Nadu unit must have a fair amount of autonomy in functioning. We must re-think this highcommand observer culture,” he said. Karti said: “Tamil Nadu political market is very crowded. Congress has to be more proactive.

We cannot wait for Delhi to show the path in every single way. There must be a far greater autonomy to the state unit. We must be in line with the national policy, but the state unit must be able to act and react much more swiftly in every issue.”

He also felt the style of the leaders of Kerala Congress unit can be a role model for other PCC units. The in-built political meaning of his remarks saw many eye-brows raised in Delhi’s political circles since he is the son of P Chidambaram. At the official briefing, AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi refused to comment on Karti Chidambaram’s remarks saying he was not aware of the details.