Ghulam Nabi Azad and the group of dissident congressional leaders met at J&K on Saturday.
New Delhi:
Congress is “weakening,” Kapil Sibal said at a public event at J&K on Saturday, as members of the G-23 – high-level leaders who have questioned Gandhis’ leadership style – shared the stage and called for strengthening the party. before the elections. in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and Assam. The meeting also comes days after the BJP lashed out at Rahul Gandhi’s comment on Kerala voters. In August last year, several congressional leaders, including Sibal, triggered a rift in the party after writing to acting chief Sonia Gandhi, asking for “full-time” and “visible” leadership. It was decided last month that a new chief would be elected in June, after the next elections, but this was after requests for immediate organizational elections were canceled.
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“The truth is that we see that Congress is weakening. That is why we have met. We also met earlier and we have to strengthen the party together,” Sibal said. “Our voice is for the betterment of the match. It must be strengthened … We have seen the good morning … we do not want it to weaken as we get older,” Sharma said.
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“People say ‘G23’, I say Gandhi 23. With the faith, determination and thought of Mahatma Gandhi, the law and Constitution of this nation was formed. Congress stands firm to carry them forward. The ‘G23’ he wants Congress to be strong. ” said actor and politician Raj Babbar.
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In addition to Sibal, Sharma and Babbar, the group that took the stage on Saturday included former Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad, current Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari and Haryana’s former chief minister. Bhupinder Singh Hooda. . All of these leaders are from North India.
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Earlier this week, Rahul Gandhi’s comment on the difference between UP and Kerala voters led the BJP to accuse Congress of trying to “divide” North and South India. Gandhi’s comment prompted cautious criticism from Sibal, and a nuanced response today from Azad.
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“Whether it is J&K or Ladakh, we respect all religions, people and castes. We respect everyone equally … that is our strength and we will continue this,” Azad said, in remarks underscoring the determination of dissident leaders to the change. in Congress.
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The meeting of the dissident leaders was met with a careful response from the party. “When elections are held in five states, these leaders could have been in these states to strengthen Congress …” said Abhishek Manu Singhvi, before adding that the party was “proud of them.”
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Elections will be held in Assam, Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala between March 27 and April 29. Elections will also be held in Puducherry, where Congress lost its government last week after another wave of defections to the BJP.
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These will be the first major elections since the party fell to defeat in Bihar, where it won only 19 of the 70 seats it contested, and potentially cost himself and his ally Rashtriya Janata Dal, who won 75 seats, a chance to form the government.
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In August of last year, several congressional leaders – Sibal and Azad among them – wrote a letter to Acting Chief Sonia Gandhi, asking for introspection on the continuing poor election results, and for her to assume leadership “full time “and” visible “. the party ahead. In December, Ms Gandhi met with the dissidents and last month it was decided that a new chief would be elected in June, after the next elections.
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However, this was after the G-23 call for immediate elections was annulled. “What is happening is a clear violation of the agreement at the CWC meeting in December last year … there are no signs of reforms or elections,” a G-23 leader told ANI today.
With contributions from ANI
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