In less than 24 hours, three prominent figures of the Congress party have resigned. The departures of boxer Vijender Singh, former MP Sanjay Nirupam, and spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh are a significant setback for the party. On the eve of elections, these leaders turning their back on the party highlights the weaknesses of its leadership. Both Vallabh and Nirupam have discussed the internal contradictions that forced them to leave, yet nothing new has been said. The narrative from those departing the Congress has been the same for years, but no actions seem to be taken. Social media is now awash with comments that soon only the Gandhi family will remain in the Congress. Let's examine the reasons behind this emptying out of the party.
1-The Gandhi Family Rules the Roost, Others Merely Harbor Illusions
In the party, no one else’s opinion stands except that of the Gandhi family. If you fail to find a place in the good books of the Gandhi family, your progress within Congress is unlikely. Even if you become the president of the party after winning the trust of the Gandhi family, you are treated no different. The recent video that shows Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge being pushed aside testifies to this. Kharge was attending to more pressing matters in Delhi on the day of Rahul Gandhi's nomination, but it went unnoticed because no member of the Gandhi family was present.
Sanjay Nirupam says there are five power centres in the Gandhi family, three of which are held by family members: Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi. The other two are external, which he identifies as Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal. The power plays by Rahul and Priyanka's lobby have seen the downfall of many good leaders, as the public has witnessed in Punjab with Amarinder Singh, Navjot Sidhu, and Charanjit Singh Channi, and in Rajasthan with the endless feuds between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot.
2-Future Lies Only with Rahul Gandhi, No Place Even for Priyankas and Varuns
Despite repeated failures, Rahul Gandhi remains the undisputed leader of the Congress party. There is no shortage of leaders within the party. If succeeding leaders within the Gandhi family is the goal, there are many choices. Despite Rahul's failures, Priyanka could be a beacon of hope, at least temporarily, to inspire party workers and leaders. If Priyanka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi had been given tickets from Raebareli and Amethi, at least two seats would have been secured. Varun Gandhi, despite being in BJP, has been targeting Narendra Modi in the hope that Congress might make room for him.
