Letter Row: Show of family Loyalists Vs Dissenters

The leadership crisis in the Congress party seems to be taking a massive form. The arguments on both the sides have exposed a sharp divide between the loyalists and those wanting 'overhaul of the organisational structure and changes in the leadership'.

New Delhi: Amid reports of interim chief Sonia Gandhi offering to quit in the wake of a letter by a group of leaders demanding a change in the Congress leadership and reforms in the party, the 'palace coup' has intrigued workers and leaders alike and all eyes are on the Monday meeting of the Congress Working Committee.

After the letter surfaced, it is now raining letters in favour of interim party chief Sonia Gandhi and former President Rahul Gandhi.

Top sources, however, indicated that a 'bunch of disgruntled leaders' who are concerned over their personal political prospects, are behind the move and at the centre are members of the Rajya Sabha, where the party numbers have fallen and there is less chance of sitting members getting renominated after the veterans were left out in recent elections.

In a major setback to dissenters seeking a leadership change in the Congress, all four party Chief Ministers and various state units have sided with the Gandhis and lashed out against those who had written the letter for change and leaked it to the media. Leading from the front is Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, and his Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry counterparts, Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and V. Narayansamy, respectively, with all terming it a move to weaken the party. The party's Lok Sabha MPs and state Congress Committees have also sided with the Gandhis.

"This kind of statement will create confusion in the minds of millions of Congressmen. This a ploy by the BJP to divert the attention of people from Facebook controversy," said Puducherry CM.

Gehlot said, "Where the fight is to save ethos of our democracy, she (Sonia Gandhi) has always taken challenges head on. But if she has made up her mind - I believe Rahul Gandhi should come ahead and be Congress President as the country faces biggest challenge to save our Constitution and democracy."Baghel also called on Rahul Gandhi to don the mantle of leadership again.

Delhi Congress has passed a resolution demanding Rahul Gandhi take over the party again and Congress Working Committee members Rajeev Satav, Ajay Maken and P.L. Punia has openly questioned the move to write a letter.

In a letter, lauding the role of Sonia Gandhi, Congress' Karnataka state chief, D.K. Shivakumar wrote: "We cannot forget the criticism and brickbats you and your family have been subjected to and constant humiliation and allegation heaped against you.

READ: CWC meet today, Sonia Gandhi likely to resign as Congress President

"I personally believe that it is only you and the Gandhi family that can lead the party," he said.

Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha, K.Suresh said that at a time when the country is facing grave threat, the bogey of "leadership crisis" is being raised at behest of some interested parties".

Some of them are upset with Mallikarjun Kharge being brought to the upper house and he may replace Ghulam Nabi Azad as Leader of the Opposition as the term of Azad is expiring early next year, said a party insider. Anand Sharma, who could have stepped into Azad's shoes, is also miffed as in his home state, Himachal Pradesh, the Congress has less numbers and he faces stiff resistance from former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the insider said.

In the recent Rajya Sabha elections, the Rahul Gandhi camp managed to get K.C. Venugopal, Kharge, Rajeev Satav and Neeraj Dangi elected and other claimants were left out.

A Congress leader, who did not want to be named, said it can also been seen as a fight between those who got favours and those who are left out. Party veterans and those who have been with Rahul Gandhi and now are feeling sidelined are said to be key to the Congress coup which has been brewing since the Rajya Sabha elections.

The party has officially denied comment on the barbs from both the sides, and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "We will have to wait for the outcome of the Working Committee meeting.

Those who are said to be the signatories in the letter seeking change have also declined to talk on the issue, terming it an 'internal party matter'.

READ: Letter by some Cong leaders seeking leadership change an 'organised coup' by BJP: Tewary

With agency inputs