NEW DELHI, May 28: Days after the drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls, the ‘first family’ in the Congress seemed to have sounded their displeasure on several top Congress leaders who displayed selfish motives and did not extend ‘necessary support and backup’ to Rahul Gandhi.
According to an informed source, at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Saturday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra used strong words and said “Congress ka hatyara is kamre mein baithe hein (The persons responsible for Congress debacle are sitting in this room)”.
The unhappiness in the family was also apparent, according to many, as Sonia Gandhi did not speak at all at the CWC meet, perhaps making it clear that she too has been “let down” by some of her trusted lieutenants.
Even during last two days, in her interactions with Congress leaders, including her brother Rahul Gandhi himself, Ms Priyanka has sounded her disapproval to the manner many Congress leaders have been functioning.
Her diatribe against party veterans came shortly after Mr Gandhi named P Chidamabaram, Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath saying all three insisted on tickets for their off-springs but none were keen to make sacrifice for the party nor work hard to deliver in one of the toughest elections Congress has faced in recent past.
Sources said it was Ms Priyanka, who first mooted the idea that idea that Mr Gandhi should given about a month’s time to ponder over his move to give up Congress presidentship.
Importantly, both Mr Chidambaram and Mr Gehlot maintained silence during the brainstorming session even as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mr Nath had given the CWC meet a miss.
However, Mr Chidambaram later requested Congress president not to insist on resignation and even remarked that people in South India could commit suicide if he gave up the Congress presidentship.
In clear indication that the post results crisis in Congress is not yet blown, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mr Gandhi held a series of meeting among themselves and also with other party colleagues even as there was not let up from the situation as dissensions continued in states like Rajasthan and Karnataka.
For the fourth day crucial meetings went at Congress president’s Tughlaq road residence wherein Mr Gandhi held closed door parleys with Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot and KC Venugopal.
Mr Gandhi also held meetings with senior leader Ahmed Patel and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
It is learnt that the Rajasthan Chief Minister and his deputy Mr Pilot briefed Mr Gandhi on the possibility of a political crisis to the Gehlot Ministry. (UNI)
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