A file photo of Congress Party chair Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. (AFP)
The great impact of the letter, written to Sonia Gandhi calling for reform in the party, is the downfall of Ghulam Nabi Azad, who no longer remains secretary general although he remains a member of the CWC.
- CNN-News18 New Delhi
- Last update: September 11, 2020 11:38 PM IST
- Edited by: Moonmoon ghosh
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Congress has made radical changes and is a mixed bag. The party’s president, Sonia Gandhi, has adopted a carrot-and-stick policy. Some of the leaders who wrote him a letter seeking organizational changes in the party have had opportunities, but the changes send a clear message: dissent will be accepted up to a limit. And that hallmark of Rahul Gandhi is evident.
In a major reorganization of the party, Sonia Gandhi on Friday removed Ghulam Nabi Azad, Motilal Vora, Ambika Soni, Mallikarjun Kharge as general secretaries of the Indian Congress Committee (AICC), and reconstituted the Congressional Working Committee (CWC) and named P Chidambaram, Randeep Surjewala. , Tariq Anwar and Jitendra Singh as regular members. Gandhi also removed Luizinho Faleiro as secretary general of the AICC, forming a special committee to assist her in party affairs. The new members of the CWC, the party’s highest decision-making body, will replace Faleiro, Vora, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Tamradhwaj Sahu.
Of the ‘group of 23’ leaders who had sought party reform, Azad and Anand Sharma continue to be regular members of the CWC, while Jitin Prasada has been named a permanent CWC guest for having previously been a special guest. Prasada has also taken responsibility for the party’s affairs in West Bengal.
THE LOSSES
The great impact of the letter is the departure of Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is no longer Secretary General although he is still a member of the CWC. Azad has not even been included in the special committee created to help and advise Sonia Gandhi; This body is made up of AK Antony, Ambika Soni, KC Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Ahmed Patel.
Among letter writers, only Wasnik has found a place, but he had been a conciliator at the CWC meeting and also has Patel’s blessing.
“Some good decisions are being made, but I will be happy only when the situation on the ground changes in favor of the Congress party and when block, district and party elections are held at the state level and when the work of true grassroots workers is recognized. “. “Azad told CNN-News18 on Friday.
Behind this smooth reaction is disappointment. An excellent man of organization, the loyal Azad does not have much going for him after his tenure in Rajya Sabha ends, as Kharge could take over as head of the Upper House.
Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari and Shashi tharoor have also been lost, although Tewari could soon take over a prominent position.
As for Sachin Pilot, he finds no place, much against speculation. But sources say he was not very interested in changing base to Delhi and wants to fight in Rajasthan.
THE WINNERS
Rahul Gandhi’s stamp on the latest quotes is clear. First, the committee that will oversee the election of the new president of Congress has young faces: Krishna Byre Gowda, Jothimani and Madhusudan Mistry are close to Rahul Gandhi.
The big winner has been Surjewala, who is also the head of the party’s media department. He lost a seat to Rajya Sabha, but has now taken over the important state of Karnataka. He is also part of the special committee to advise Sonia Gandhi.
The inclusion of Jitin Prasada, another of those who wrote the letter, is significant. A brahmin face, he has now been appointed in charge of the West Bengal elections. Prasada’s great-grandmother is Rabindranath Tagore’s niece.
Two other big names who have been given high places in the CWC are again the people of Rahul: Manickam Tagore and Srinivas. Tagore has also taken responsibility for Telangana.
THE MESSAGE
The message is clear. The top leadership in Congress has tried to avoid criticism that it was witch hunters who wrote the letter. Many of them have stayed. But the two believed to be the brains behind the “coup,” Azad and Sharma, have been reduced to size.
A party that has been accused of failing to build a second rung of leadership is now trying to do just that. The youngest are being projected and given a chance. However, one criticism remains. The CWC has been reconstituted without elections, which was a demand of many like Tharoor. But there is an additional clause: these are temporary changes. A new president will surely bring a new team. More importantly, it is perhaps then that letter writers will relax.
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