Cong tussle not over yet: Ghulam Nabi Azad says 'party chief might not have 1% support'

In a massive statement on Friday, senior Congress leer Ghulam Nabi Az once again demanded elections to Congress Working Committee and key organizational posts of state chiefs, district presidents, block presidents and said that it is unclear if party president has even one percent support. This comes as rekindling of dissent fire within Congress, even as party high-command sought to reduce by old method of placing a Gandhi-Nehru at helm of affairs.

Speaking to news ncy ANI, Ghulam Nabi Az, one of signatories to anti-Sonia letter, said that Congress would continue to sit in Opposition for next 50 years, if elections within party are t conducted. Slamming those for opposing elections, Rajya Sabha member said, “Those office-bearers or state unit presidents or block district presidents who attack our proposal kw that y will be where when elections happen. Whoever is genuinely invested in Congress will welcome letter. "I have said that I have stated that party workers should elect state, district and block president,” he said.

"When you contest election at least 51 percent is with you and you contest election against only 2 to 3 people within party. Right w, person who becomes president might t even have one percent support. If CWC members are elected n y cant be removed. So what is problem? If my party wants to be in opposition for next 50 years, n re is need for elections within party,” Ghulam Nabi Az said. 

Mentioning that sole purpose of election is to make Congress active and strong, he said, “But those who simply got ‘appointment cards’ continue to oppose our proposal. What’s harm in having elected CWC members who will have fixed tenures in party. Anyone who has a genuine interest in internal working dynamics of Congress would welcome our proposal to have every state and district president as being elected. entire Congress Working Committee should be elected,” Az said.

Earlier on Thursday, while siding with Rahul Gandhi's peer Jitin Prasa, senior Congress leer Kapil Sibal, reprimanded party for targetting Prasa by an Uttar Presh party unit. Taking to Twitter, Sibal said that party should 'target BJP with surgical strikes inste of wasting its energy by targeting its own', to which Manish Tiwari tweeted 'prescient'.

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Cong quashes dissent

23 leers h written to party's interim Chief Sonia Gandhi emphasising need for active revival of party. As CWC meeting began on August 24, sources reported that Sonia Gandhi offered to step down, whereas Rahul Gandhi expressed his displeasure at dissenting letter. An all-out war broke out between Ghulam Nabi Az, Kapil Sibal and Wayan MP after latter said that dissenters were 'in cahoots with BJP', which prompted Sibal to lash out on Twitter and Az to offer to resign.  temporary end to day-long drama came with Sonia Gandhi continuing to be 'interim' chief of grand-old party, till fresh elections are held by AICC in next six months. A 5-point resolution waxing lyrical about Sonia and Rahul Gandhi was issued. 

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23 senior leers sought 'structural changes', internal election to CWC even at state levels, formation of an Independent Election Authority, and institutional leership mechanism, full-time leership at helm at party.   23 signatories include Ghulam Nabi Az, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajender Kaur Bhattal, M. Veerappa Moily, Prithviraj Chavan, P.J. Kurian, Ajay Singh, Renuka Chaudhary, and Milind Deora -  belonging from Congress' 'old guard ' and 'young guard' (i.e Rahul Gandhi supporters). Apart from se signatories, over 300 Congress workers support it.

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