Kapil Sibal didn’t need to mention our internal problem in the media, Ashok Gehlot said (Archive)
New Delhi:
Congressional leader Kapil Sibal’s outspoken criticism of the party’s leadership after the Bihar debacle has prompted a sharp and public rebuttal from Rajasthan’s chief minister, Ashok Gehlot, who said in a series of tweets today that “no there was a need “for his colleague to mention” internal issues “in the media. The veteran congressional leader also said that after each electoral defeat, the party had shown “a firm and whole faith in the leadership of the party” and had emerged stronger from each crisis.
The public outburst that followed another electoral defeat, a familiar congressional play, relives the party’s unresolved leadership crisis three months after he called a large meeting and affirmed that all was well.
“It was not necessary for Mr. Kapil Sibal to mention our internal problem in the media, this has hurt the feelings of party workers across the country,” Ashok Gehlot said in his tweets.
He also said that the game had improved with each and every crisis under Sonia Gandhi and that this time as well. “Each time we come out stronger due to our ideology, programs, policies and our firm belief in the leadership of the party. We have improved with each and every crisis and also formed the UPA government in 2004 under leadership capable of Soniaji, this time we will overcome too, “wrote the veteran of Congress.
Kapil Sibal, without mincing words, had said that the party must recognize that it is in decline and that “experienced minds, experienced hands and those who understand political realities” are needed to revive the organization.
The “time for introspection is over,” Sibal told the Indian Express in an interview that he also tweeted.
“… We need to do various things at various levels: organizationally, articulating in the media in whatever form, introducing the people that people want to hear, providing active and thoughtful leadership that can be articulated with a lot of circumspection,” said the former union minister .
Referring to the dismal performance of Congress in Bihar, as well as elections across the country, including in states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, where the party remains a powerful force, Sibal said: “Where we were an alternative, the people of that The state hasn’t. They put their trust in Congress in the way we hoped. So the time for introspection is over. We know the answers. Congress must be brave and willing to acknowledge them. “
Sibal was one of 23 congressional leaders behind the “letter of dissent” that sparked an all-out showdown within the party in August, but changed little except for the rejection of major letter writers. The letter had suggested radical changes after Congress lost power in Madhya Pradesh after a revolt from Jyotiraditya Scindia and barely saved his Rajasthan government after a rebellion.
“As there has been no dialogue and there seems to be no dialogue effort on the part of the leaders and as there is no forum to express my views, I am forced to express them publicly. I am a congressman and I will continue to be a congressman and I hope and pray for Congress to provide the alternative to a power structure that has subverted all the values that the nation represents, “Sibal said in the interview.
On whether the leadership was taking the defeat of Bihar as “business as usual”, Mr. Sibal said: “I haven’t heard the leaders say anything to me. So I don’t know. I only hear voices surrounding the leaders … We have not yet heard from the Congress party their views on our recent performance in Bihar and in the by-elections. They may think that everything is fine and that I should continue as usual. “
In last week’s election results in Bihar, the opposition won 110 seats, a dozen less than the mark for the majority in the 243-member assembly. Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) emerged as the largest party, but Congress, which contested 70 seats but won only 19, turned out to be dead weight.
A top RJD leader, Shivanand Tiwari, called Congress a burden on the opposition. Mahagathbandhan. “Elections were in full swing here and Rahul Gandhi was having a picnic in Priyanka HeeShimla’s house. Does the game work like this? Tiwari told the ANI news agency.
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