RJD's Shivanand Tiwary calls ally Cong's Rahul Gandhi 'uninspiring'; taunts his own party

Almost two months after poll debacle in Bihar, Congress' allies are still targeting party and are openly calling out party for its leadership crisis. On Friday, senior RJD leader Shivanand Tiwary on Friday called Rahul Gandhi a "reluctant and uninspiring" leader and urged Congress president Sonia Gandhi to overcome "putra moh" (weakness for her son) in deciding her political successor. Tiwary, made explosive statement with remark that he was aware that he could "irk leadership of very party of which I am at present a member".

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"But, I have reached a st where I do t always care about party diktats and choose to speak my mind.....Sonia Gandhi is going to hold an important meeting tomorrow. I wonder if it is going to yield any result," former Bihar minister and ex-Rajya Sabha member said in his statement.

"Even a tall leader like Sharad Pawar severed his ties on issue of foreign origin. But Sonia took it all in her stride. Today, however, she appears to be dragging herself....managing party affairs despite poor health. choice before Sonia Gandhi today is t between her son and party but her son and democracy itself. Congress, which even w is more potent than any regional party, is capable of taking on a hegemonic BJP. "But Rahul Gandhi has always come across as an anichhuk (reluctant) leader. He simply cant inspire his supporters," he added.

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In Bihar elections, RJD emerged as single largest party and Left, registered a stunning strike rate, but Congress came to be seen as weak link, having won less than 20 seats despite contesting in 70. Tiwary had, soon after results were out, lambasted Rahul Gandhi for taking time off for just about six rallies in contrast with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who addressed a dozen. He was also critical of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who was named as one of star campaigners for polls but never visited state during elections.

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Congress election in January?

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is set to meet face-to-face this weekend some of "letter writers" who had written to her seeking an overhaul of party organisation. Sources said Gandhi has fixed a series of meetings on December 19 and 20 with Congress leaders to decide on key issues concerning party. se include party's strategy on government t convening winter session of Parliament, finalising alliances and its strategy in poll-bound states of Assam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, farmers' agitation and holding of organisational elections.

During se deliberations over weekend, she will also meet some of prominent members of "letter-writers' group", who had written to her demanding an overhaul of party.  Among m are Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and deputy leader of party in Upper House, Anand Sharma. re are talks that Congress is likely to hold AICC session in January to elect a new president, for which party leadership will discuss and chalk out plans.

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