The Congress on Thursday announced that it will not send spokespersons on television debates for a month, a move that comes in the wake of the party's drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections and in the midst of a leadership crisis created by Rahul Gandhi's insistence on stepping down as the party president.
Randeep Surjewala, who heads the AICC's Communications Department, made the announcement via a tweet this morning. “@INCIndia has decided to not send spokespersons on television debates for a month. All media channels/editors are requested to not place Congress representatives on their shows,” Surjewala tweeted.
It is learnt that the move was dictated by the feeling that the party needs to take a break from TV debates as it deals with the crisis emanating out of not just the disastrous poll results, but also Rahul's insistence on resigning by owning responsibility for the electoral debacle.
It is felt that the uncertainty in the party with regard to the leadership issue as also the next steps that need to be taken would make it difficult for the spokespersons to give clear answers to the various issues that are taken up in the TV debates. Many of the members in the media team are fairly junior and may not be able to speak convincingly or with authority about the way forward for the party or the issue of Rahul's resignation.
Also, the Congress has often said that the media has been biased towards the Modi government and that it has not been fair to the opposition party's perspective. The party feels that its representatives are not given a fair chance to put forth their views on most of the TV channels.
The principal opposition party is at unease with the intense media speculation over Rahul's refusal to take back his offer of resignation and what the future holds for it. It wants to deal with the crisis situation away from the media glare.
also read
- Battle for Bengaluru explained: Who are in fray and what is at stake
- Sam Pitroda says '55% inheritance tax' remark twisted by BJP to divert attention
- Explainer: The Congress manifesto and the controversy around wealth inequality
- ‘Stone pelting, beheading of soldiers would have continued if Cong was in power: Modi
On May 27, Surjewala had issued a statement requesting the media “to not fall into the trap of conjectures or speculations and await the calibrated efforts by the Congress party towards future course of action".
The statement had come in the wake of reports about the Congress Working Committee meeting, which detailed the discussions that took place in the meet, highlighting Rahul criticising senior leaders for putting their sons before the interests of the party. Rahul's remarks were seen as referring to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and former Union minister P. Chidambaram.
Surjewala had said in the statement that the Congress party expects everyone, including the media to respect the sanctity of a closed door meeting of the CWC. “Various conjectures, speculations, insinuations, assumptions, gossip and rumour mongering in a section of the media is uncalled for and unwarranted,” he said.
“CWC held a collective deliberation on the performance of the party, the challenges before it as also the way ahead, instead of casting aspersions on the role or conduct of any specific individual,” the statement read.
Following the Lok Sabha results, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav dissolved the party's panel of spokespersons and asked TV channels not to call SP representatives on their shows.
