New Delhi: Congress party, on Wednesday, faced another jolt when its young and prominent leader Jitin Prasada crossed over to the BJP and that too just ahead of the Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh which are scheduled to be held in 2022. Jitin Prasada, one of the close aides of Rahul Gandhi, had served as a Union Minister twice during the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. He was being appointed as the Congress' West Bengal state in charge recently.
He is a prominent Brahmin face in Uttar Pradesh. His switching over to BJP just ahead of the Assembly polls showed that Congress has somehow failed to put its house in order. Its disenchanted young leaders are seeing no future for themselves within the party, leading them to jump ship for greener pastures. Jitin Prasada was also among the group of 23 leaders who had sent a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, expressing dissatisfaction with the party's functioning and demanding an organizational overhaul.
Read:| Big blow for Congress, Jitin Prasada joins BJP
He is the second leader, after Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was among the key members of Rahul's team but decided to switch the path. However, the list has not ended yet. The names of Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora are also doing rounds as they both are also unhappy with the party affairs. Today, after the Jitin's exit from the party, Milind Deora tweeted, "I believe in @INCIndia as a party that can & must reclaim its position as India’s big tent party. We still have a strong bench that if empowered & optimally utilised, can deliver. I only wish that several of my friends, peers & valued colleagues hadn’t left us."
Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot's feud is also being in public for the past one year. Pilot rebelled against the Rajasthan CM last year but later came back after the party high command assured him that his grievances will be taken into consideration. However, unhappy with the delay in taking any action over the matter, there are some speculations that he is also being in touch with BJP.
Expressing concern over the matter, ex-spokesperson of Congress party, Sanjay Jha said to ETV Bharat, "The departure of Jitin Prasada is a very big setback for the Congress party. We have been losing many bright young leaders who were very determined, passionate to do welfare for Congress. Jyotiraditya Scindia left a few time ago and now Jitin Prasada, these were considered to be the future of Congress. So, I think a lot for the Congress to introspect on, while BJP is the real gainer."
Read:| Jitin Prasada's frustration with Congress was no secret
But here, the question arises if Congress is ready to accept its fault and will do an introspection before going into polls next year or not? When asked about the matter, Congress' Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Jaane wale jaate rehte hain, we can’t stop them. It was his decision, he also had a future here (Congress Party). However, it is unfortunate."
While addressing a press conference, Supriya Shrinate stated, "Jitin Prasada left as General Secretary in charge of West Bengal, you don’t need the power to serve people you need the will, like Srinivas and NSUI have been serving people without any major post in the party."
"These were the young and famous faces of Congress who were going to have a strong role in the party in the upcoming days. Either he or the one who left before, Congress party gave respect and high posts to these people, appointed them as Ministers. This is not about convenience politics, it's about the ideology. There are many states where Congress hasn't come into power for almost 20 years. But there as well, Congress workers are fighting for the party's ideology," she further added. She attacked the former Congress leader, "When you join such a party which has a completely different ideology, you raise questions on your ideology."
UP Congress Chief Ajay Lallu also launched a scathing attack on Prasada, saying, "The party gave him important positions while he was with us. We gave him tickets for elections each time, but how is the party at fault if he couldn't win the polls? Even after giving him so much respect, if a leader doesn't show loyalty to the party, then what is it if not betrayal? I believe it doesn't matter who comes and go. Congress is an ideological party.
WATCH: Congress leader Jitin Prasada joins BJP
Meanwhile, UP Congress leader Rashid Alvi put an allegation over him, saying, "Jitin Prasada wanted to join before even before the Parliamentary elections. I feel sorry that he has gone now. Congress party must introspect as well as fix accountability. This should be done by those people who are down to earth. There is a great saying that people leave something when it gets weak."
Congress party has been in shambles in UP for years. Jitin Prasad's exit might not be a setback for the party but it may impact the electoral fortunes of BJP as the move will send an impression on the Brahmin community in UP who are feeling sidelined under the Yogi Adityanath-led government.
Kuldeep Bishnoi, another Congress leader, concerned, "First @JM_Scindia now @JitinPrasada - huge blows for @incindia as we lose leaders who gave & still had much to give to the Party. Agreed, they shouldn’t have abandoned INC esp during troubled waters. But Congress needs to identify & empower mass leaders to win back states."
