This letter aimed to create confusion, those who don't want Rahul Gandhi to lead Congress are behind it: PC Chacko

Congress leader PC Chacko on Tuesday lashed out at leaders who wrote the letter of dissent. Interacting with ETV Bharat Reporter Niyamika Singh, he mentioned that the letter was written to create confusion over the party leadership and those "who don't want" Rahul Gandhi to take up this post are behind the move.

New Delhi: A day after the grand old party witnessed a political turmoil within, during Congress Working Committee meeting, the chaos continues over the letter demanding a complete organizational rehaul. Senior Congress leader PC Chacko, on Tuesday, alleged that the letter was being written to create confusion over the party leadership and those "who don't want" Rahul Gandhi to take up this post, "are behind the move".

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Chacko said, "I agree that the leadership needs to be strengthened but writing a letter to the Congress president right before CWC meeting and then leaking it out to the media, was absolutely incorrect and shameful."

He further added that the letter of dissent created problems for the party, it didn't help the party in any way. "There are some people who don't want Rahul Gandhi to take over as Congress president. They must have been the people behind this move," he alleged.

23 Congress leaders had written a letter to Congress' interim President Sonia Gandhi, asserting over the need of organisational reforms within the party and an "active" and "visible" leadership on the ground. However, the letter backfired when a number of Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, expressed his displeasure over the dissenting letter during CWC meet.

A few leaders alleged that the letter was written by those who are supporting BJP. When asked about the matter, Chacko replied, "I don't believe that people having a problem with party's leadership are in any way associated with BJP, especially if I talk about Kapil Sibal, Ghulam Nabi Azad and other senior leaders. But when they create these kinds of trouble in the Congress party, BJP benefits. Anyway, there are some people behind this move who are willing to create confusion in Congress party."

The Congress leader revealed, despite being a permanent member of the CWC, he wasn't invited for the CWC meeting. "There are three types of Congress leaders who attend CWC meet- members, permanent invitees and special invitees. I'm a permanent member of CWC but in spite of that they didn't invite me," he added.

Chacko elucidated, an action against the letter writers could lead to a more complicated situation within the party. He, though, agreed that Congress needs a number of reforms as mentioned in the letter.

On Tuesday, Congress MP and one of the signatories of the letter, Vivek Tankha tweeted, "Friends we are not dissenters but proponents of revival. The letter was not a challenge to leadership but a parchment of action to strengthen the party." Replying to this, Mukul Wasnik said, "Well said. Sooner than later those who saw the letter as an offence will also realize that the issues raised are worth consideration."

However, Sonia Gandhi, in her concluding remarks, clearly stated that she held "no ill-will" towards the letter writers, saying, "I am hurt but they are my colleagues. We are a family. Bygones are bygones, let us work together."