In the pits

One would have to be a political amateur to believe that the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia came as a shock to the Congress. Without doubt Scindia’s decision reeks of political foul play. But if his claim that he could not get an audience with Rahul for almost a year, is true, I feel the onus of foul play falls squarely on the shoulders of the party leaders  (“Scindia joins BJP, gets Rajya Sabha ticket; Rahul slams PM,” Mar.11, Gulf Today).

Rahul Gandhi is believed to have said that Scindia is the only chap in Congress who could walk into his house anytime. If that is credible, then why didn’t Rahul refute his allegation? And this is not the first instance of a Congressman being denied an audience with the Gandhi family.

After the 2014 general elections which saw the BJP come to power, the Congress witnessed a slew of Congress stalwarts abandon the party, more so because of the High Command’s chutzpah. Unfortunately the same attitude seems to continue till date.

The BJP and Narendra Modi came to power in 2014 on the promise of a Congress-mukt Bharat . Five years down the line he is almost nearing his target. Probably the Congress working committee can take a cue from that and maybe even salvage the party by implementing a Gandhi-mukt Congress. It’s utopian, I know to believe that such a thing can ever happen in the Grand Old Party. But I see no other tangible way out for the party to rejuvenate itself, besides this.

It has been eight months since Rahul quit the president’s post and still the seat lies unoccupied. If this is the plight of the party, how can the Congress ever think of leading a nation?

Ralph R
By email