There can be no doubt that I am dedicated to the Congress doctrine, which is ingrained in my DNA. I had no other choice, though, as a self-respecting person, given the ongoing isolation and insults. With these sentiments, seasoned Congressman Anand Sharma announced his resignation from the top steering committee in charge of overseeing preparations for the upcoming Himachal Pradesh state elections.
Days before to Sharma's resignation, Ghulam Nabi Azad, another G-23 member and member of the Grand Old Party's dissident wing, resigned from a similar committee established for Jammu and Kashmir. Following Azad's departure, several members of the same committee resigned.
Despite the dismissive attitude of the Congress' top brass in Delhi toward Azad and Sharma's resignations, which they chose to ignore, the developments show a lack of confidence in the Gandhi’s and also serve as a sign that not all is well within the party, which has been battling to turn around its electoral setbacks and maintain its internal order.
It's interesting that Sharma's departure occurs as the Congress begins the selection process for its new president. Check the records, the leader advised News18.com. Have I ever been invited to a meeting? Was I even asked for my opinion before being appointed chairman? They did not also consult Mr. Azad. For many of us in the G-23, this is a frequent slur.
In a letter to Sonia Gandhi last year, the G-23 demanded organizational elections and criticized the fact that the party's electoral strategy was still decided upon by a small group of individuals, which they claimed was the cause of the Congress' repeated losses in state elections. While Sonia Gandhi told G-23 members that an organizational reform would occur soon when they met with her, the dissidents are still waiting for it to materialize. The complaints of many senior Congress officials are growing as they perceive the emergence of a new coterie, and add to that the reality that Rahul Gandhi is enjoying all the power without the accountability.
Rahul Gandhi's reluctance to lead the Congress presents a challenge, and the party must make a difficult choice a non-Gandhi to lead it since both Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are equally reluctant to hold the fort.
While Anand Sharma's detractors contend that he lacks grassroots leadership and so cannot have a significant impact on the Himachal elections, the truth is that he has been one of the Gandhi’s' most steadfast allies, notably Sonia Gandhi. Sharma was one of the few who remained behind Sonia Gandhi and encouraged her to enter active politics after the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, when Sitaram Kesri tightened his control over the party and many criticized and left her. Since Indira Gandhi's presidency, Azad is also one of the more senior members of the Congress.
Assuming that Sharma's resignation hasn't actually affected the senior brass would likewise be naive. Capt. Amarinder Singh's decision to leave the Congress and create his own party in Punjab may have cost him the election, but also hurt the party there and gave the impression that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra couldn't hold the party together. Similar concerns are present in Sharma's situation, and state-level efforts are being done to assuage them. Any additional remarks made by Sharma, Azad, or any other G-23 member, however, will only make the Gandhi’s appear weaker.
According to sources, Sharma is preparing a candid news conference in Shimla soon, where other G-23 members intend to publicly discuss the party's shortcomings.
The Gandhi’s lose the perception war with such loyalists rebelling. Additionally, it reveals the fact that few elders would feel at ease working with Rahul Gandhi. Sharma and some other officials, including Kapil Sibal, have insisted that the party should consider other candidates if Rahul Gandhi is reluctant to run for president.
The Gandhi’s are in a bind because their hold on the party is slipping as the countdown to party and state elections has started and regional parties are putting pressure on the Congress.
