NEW DELHI: Senior Congress The leader and member of the G23 group of dissidents, Ghulam Nazi Azad, has again raised doubts about the party’s functioning and has said that elections for internal positions are necessary if Congress is to become a viable national alternative.
Azad is part of a group of senior congressional leaders who have been raising questions about the party’s leadership after a series of poor results in recent elections. He was also one of 23 signatories to the letter sent to the Acting President of Congress. Sonia Gandhi demanding a relaunch and reform within the party.
Reflecting on the results of the recent Bihar elections and the state parliamentary elections, Azad said the party will not win any votes until the “5-star culture” ends.
“Polls are not won with 5-star culture. The problem with leaders today is that if they get a ticket to the party, they first book a 5-star hotel. They won’t go if there is a hard road. So far , 5 stars culture is abandoned, elections cannot be won, “Azad told the ANI news agency.
He said he doesn’t blame the leadership for recent losses, but suggested that a big reason behind the election debacle is the fact that party workers have lost connection on the ground.
“We are all concerned about the losses, especially about Bihar and the election results. I do not blame the leaders for the loss. Our people have lost connection on the ground. One should be in love with their party,” he said.
Criticizing the party’s operation, Azad said that in the absence of elections, “anyone gets a seat in Congress.”
“Until the time officials are appointed, they will not go. But if all officials are elected, they will understand their responsibility. Right now, anyone gets a party in the party,” he said.
Azad also stressed the need to change the functioning at all levels, saying that the leadership must give a program to the party workers and introduce responsibility within the ranks.
Speaking about the original demands of the G23, Azad said elections for key party positions, including that of full-time president, must be held in due course if Congress is to be reactivated.
“There are no changes in our demands. They (Gandhis) agreed with most of our demands. Our leadership should hold elections if they want to become a national alternative and revive the party,” he said.
The senior leader played down rebellion talks with Congress, saying party leaders are voicing dissent only because they seek reform.
“There is no rebellion in the Congress party. Rebellion means replacing someone. There is no other candidate for the office of party president. This is not a rebellion. This is for reforms,” he said.
Azad also warned against the “culture of adulation” within political parties, saying it is the main reason behind a party’s downfall.
“We must stay away from this culture at all levels. Politics is a penance. Shame on those who join politics for pleasure and money,” he said.
Earlier today, the congressman Kapil sibal He said that the party had ceased to be an effective opposition party, with no effort being made to strengthen the organization.
Azad is part of a group of senior congressional leaders who have been raising questions about the party’s leadership after a series of poor results in recent elections. He was also one of 23 signatories to the letter sent to the Acting President of Congress. Sonia Gandhi demanding a relaunch and reform within the party.
Reflecting on the results of the recent Bihar elections and the state parliamentary elections, Azad said the party will not win any votes until the “5-star culture” ends.
“Polls are not won with 5-star culture. The problem with leaders today is that if they get a ticket to the party, they first book a 5-star hotel. They won’t go if there is a hard road. So far , 5 stars culture is abandoned, elections cannot be won, “Azad told the ANI news agency.
He said he doesn’t blame the leadership for recent losses, but suggested that a big reason behind the election debacle is the fact that party workers have lost connection on the ground.
“We are all concerned about the losses, especially about Bihar and the election results. I do not blame the leaders for the loss. Our people have lost connection on the ground. One should be in love with their party,” he said.
Criticizing the party’s operation, Azad said that in the absence of elections, “anyone gets a seat in Congress.”
“Until the time officials are appointed, they will not go. But if all officials are elected, they will understand their responsibility. Right now, anyone gets a party in the party,” he said.
Azad also stressed the need to change the functioning at all levels, saying that the leadership must give a program to the party workers and introduce responsibility within the ranks.
Speaking about the original demands of the G23, Azad said elections for key party positions, including that of full-time president, must be held in due course if Congress is to be reactivated.
“There are no changes in our demands. They (Gandhis) agreed with most of our demands. Our leadership should hold elections if they want to become a national alternative and revive the party,” he said.
The senior leader played down rebellion talks with Congress, saying party leaders are voicing dissent only because they seek reform.
“There is no rebellion in the Congress party. Rebellion means replacing someone. There is no other candidate for the office of party president. This is not a rebellion. This is for reforms,” he said.
Azad also warned against the “culture of adulation” within political parties, saying it is the main reason behind a party’s downfall.
“We must stay away from this culture at all levels. Politics is a penance. Shame on those who join politics for pleasure and money,” he said.
Earlier today, the congressman Kapil sibal He said that the party had ceased to be an effective opposition party, with no effort being made to strengthen the organization.
In a television interview, he said that Congress has been without a party president for more than a year and a half since Rahul gandhi announced that he was not interested in being the head of the party. “How can a party function without a leader for a year and a half? The workers in Congress don’t know where to go,” he said.
Meanwhile, the party’s senior leader, Salman Khurshid, said today that there is no leadership crisis in the party and that full support for Sonia and Rahul Gandhi is “evident to anyone who is not blind.”
Khurshid, who is among the leaders considered close to the Gandhi family, also said that there are enough forums in Congress to air views and do it outside the party “it hurts.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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