Sonia Calm Despite Severe Criticism By Colleagues

The Congress high command appears cool to the spate of critical remarks against it by senior party functionaries, apparently with a decision not be provoked into any rash act.

Senior party leaders are trying to explain away the open criticism of the leadership by senior leaders as nothing but a reflection of inner-party democracy that existed in the Congress right from Mahatma Gandhi's days. At the same time, no effort is being spared to ensure that the party rank and file does not get affected by the statements of disgruntled leaders.

It began with economic affairs department secretary Jairam Ramesh questioning the abilities of party president Sonia Gandhi. This was followed up by several others who reflected similar spirit, though using different words. Senior leaders who have so far raised a question mark on the future of the Congress include former Cabinet minister Balram Jakhar, former party spokespersons V N Gadgil and Kapil Sibal, and Vasant Sathe.

 

The latest and the most important from party organisation's point of view is Rajesh Pilot who attacked the current state of affairs in the party at Jhansi on Sunday. Pilot is a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision making body of the party.

Party spokesman Ajit Jogi yesterday dismissed Pilot's five point plan to save the party as nothing but well-meaning good words spoken with a sincere effort to improve things within the party.

Pilot had told reporters on Sunday that he was for improvement in the party structure based on the five principles enunciated by late Congress president Rajiv Gandhi.

He said the five principles were that the ordinary party worker should get honour in the party organisation; the party should earn confidence of all the sections of the society; it should be committed to social cause; it should speak the language of the village and poor people; and it should not put up candidates in elections against whom criminal cases were pending.

Jogi agreed with Pilot's assertion that he was not revolting against the party leadership but was merely speaking out his mind in order to improve things in the party. Just as Pilot had said that he stood for unity in the party, Vasant Sathe had also called for unity in the party.

But in his editorial for party's mouthpiece Congress Sandesh, Sathe had talked about the limitations of Sonia Gandhi as the Congress leader and confusion in the party leadership leading to "mental depression".