Azad hit out on the “five-star tradition” within the celebration throughout elections. (File)
THE TURMOIL within the Congress that resurfaced after the celebration’s poor efficiency within the Bihar elections and bypolls is exhibiting no indicators of abating. On Sunday, Ghulam Nabi Azad, one of many 23 senior leaders who wrote the unprecedented letter to Sonia Gandhi demanding sweeping adjustments within the celebration, stated the Congress’s organisational “system has collapsed” and its place won’t enhance until reforms are carried out.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Azad, chief of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, stated the state of affairs of the Congress is “not good” however argued that “making it good is in our fingers”. He admitted that “our leaders have misplaced reference to individuals on the bottom.”
Learn| Sonia forms 3 panels to steer party position, packs them with old hands—and ‘dissenters’
The one answer for the celebration’s revival, he stated, is organisational election from booth-level upwards.
He stated the pandemic has “derailed” makes an attempt to reform the organisation however argued “as and when we have now a transparent window”, the management ought to push reforms to strengthen the celebration.
“The defeat in Bihar and the by-elections is a matter of nice concern for the celebration. And for this, I don’t blame the nationwide management. We won’t enhance our place in any state until we have now the block-level, district-level and PCC-level elections, which has been our demand from Day 1. By demanding this, we’re strengthening the fingers of the management and the celebration,” he stated.
Azad’s feedback come after his celebration colleague Kapil Sibal stated that the Congress’s poor exhibiting within the latest Bihar elections and bypolls underlined that individuals now not noticed the celebration as an “efficient different” and that the management was not addressing the celebration’s issues.
Azad hit out on the “five-star tradition” within the celebration throughout elections.
“Throughout elections, the overall tendency lately… which isn’t simply in Congress however in BJP additionally… however the BJP has a bonus that they produce other grass root outfits that are a lot entrenched within the villages and small cities and cities… to allow them to enable this luxurious of coming again by helicopter to the capital metropolis and keep the night time. However since we shouldn’t have that type of celebration construction on the grass-root degree, block-level and district-level just like the regional events or the BJP… we should always, as an alternative of getting tempted to return again to the state capital by helicopter and keep in a lodge and losing productive hours…. Congress leaders, whether or not they’re normal secretaries, secretaries, PCC presidents or different star campaigners…ought to keep on the district and taluka degree.”
Calling the celebration’s state of affairs “not good” and that “making it good is in our fingers”, he stated Congressmen have misplaced the connection on the bottom “as a result of we don’t have the elected our bodies… (which) must be compulsorily in contact with the individuals.”
Azad stated those that are talking out shouldn’t be handled as rebels.
“We’re not rebels. We’re reformists. Rebels need to take away an individual who’s ready and get him changed with himself. Reformists are those that should not bothered about management. He’s one who needs to strengthen the system. We’re for strengthening the system which wants reforms. And these reforms are embedded in our celebration structure.”
Saying “nothing will change… by altering the management on the nationwide degree”, Azad stated, “The perceptible change will happen provided that we deliver the system so as on the state-, district- and booth-level… This technique was derailed after Rajiv Gandhi’s loss of life. In between there have been two different presidents additionally. After Rajiv Gandhi’s loss of life, this entire system collapsed,” he stated.
Requested whether or not the management is in any temper to hear, he stated, “It’s not true that the management will not be listening. We had made 5 calls for – a full-time president and election needs to be instantly held for that and an elected (Congress) Working Committee. Each have been agreed upon. Even Rahul Gandhi and Mrs Gandhi wished it to be held in October solely. However due to Covid, it was not potential… The actual strengthening of the celebration will come when elections shall be held for block, district and state committees… the management has not stated that they won’t try this.”
“We might have gone the entire hog and stated do it tomorrow solely…however I’m not certain how lengthy Covid goes to proceed.”
When identified that the BJP high management has been finishing up celebration actions even within the midst of the pandemic, he stated, “They’ve particular plane. That luxurious we don’t have.”
Requested about Congress president Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul’s Goa journey, he stated, “Going to Goa will not be forbidden. Goa is part of India… If the chief goes for three-four days vacation, the world doesn’t cease… If we have now the elected system at each degree in place… then it isn’t essential how a lot time the highest management spends within the states or in workplace or outdoors.”
Earlier within the day, former Union minister Salman Khurshid stated there was no management disaster within the celebration and an all-round assist for Sonia Gandhi and Rahul was “obvious to anybody who will not be blind”. Claiming that there have been sufficient boards within the Congress for airing views, Khurshid informed PTI, “The management listens to me, I’m given a possibility, they (these criticising within the media) are given a possibility, the place does this factor come from… that the management will not be listening?”
Requested about some leaders calling for a full-time president, Khurshid stated they need to come ahead and discuss it contained in the celebration. “See our chief and say you don’t look good with out a label. The chief will take a name,” Khurshid stated.
