A few days after Congress leader Kapil Sibal's public criticism of the party leadership and his statement that the time of introspection was over and people no longer saw the party as an effective alternative, another prominent Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad, pointed out that the party has lost connection on the ground. He, however, sought to give a "clean chit to Gandhis" over the poll debacle saying they can't do much right now due to COVID-19.
According to news agency ANI, when Azad was asked about the recent electoral setbacks the party faced, he said "We all are worried about losses, especially about Bihar and bypolls results. I don't blame the leadership for the loss. Our people have lost the connection on the ground. One should be in love with their party."
He apportioned the blame for defeats to "five-star culture" of party leaders and added that party won't be able to win the elections unless the leaders are willing to give up this culture. "Polls aren't worn by five-star culture. Problem with leaders today is if they get a party ticket, they first book a five-star hotel. They won't go if there's a rough road. Till the time five-star culture is given up, one can't win elections," he was quoted as saying.
"Office bearers should understand their responsibility. Till the time, office bearers are appointed, they won't go. But if all office bearers are elected, then they will understand their responsibility. Right now, anyone gets any post in the party," Azad said.
He pointed out that the party is in its lowest phase as it does not even have the post of opposition leader in the Lok Sabha during the last two terms. "But Congress won nine seats in Ladakh hill council elections even as we were not expecting such a positive result," Azad said.
He called for a change of functioning at every level for things to change. "Leadership needs to give a programme to party workers and hold elections for posts. One should be so much indispensable that leadership asks for you in your absence."
He, however, said Gandhis are not to be blamed for the poll setbacks as they could not do much because of the COVID-19 situation. "I'm giving a clean chit to Gandhis due to #COVID pandemic as they can't do much right now," he said.
Azad, who is one of the signatories of the controversial letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi, said, "There's no change in our demands. They've agreed to most of our demands. Our leadership should hold elections if they want to become a national alternative and revive the party."
He further said the structure of the party has collapsed. "We need to rebuild our structure and then if any leader is elected in that structure, it will work. But saying that just by changing the leader, we'll win Bihar, UP, MP etc. is wrong. That will happen once we change the system," ANI quoted him as saying.
