'Time to build consensus': Sachin Pilot weighs in on dissent letter, bats for Rahul Gandhi

Weighing in on dissent within Congress, ex-Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot on Sunday revealed that most workers want Rahul Gandhi to take over as party president. Highlighting that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Wayanad MP had sacrificed for greater good of people time and again, Pilot stressed that it is necessary to build consensus and consolidate. reafter, he opined that  future of party will be stronger only when party leaders are united.

While Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot had slammed Congress leaders for raising ir concerns, Pilot refrained from criticising dissenters. In fact, Gehlot backed Sonia Gandhi to continue leading Congress party to save "ethos of India's democracy". It is pertinent to te that former Congress president had played a pivotal role in convincing Pilot and his group of 18 MLAs to remain in Congress fold after ir month-long tiff with Gehlot. 

Read: BJP's Shivraj Chouhan Says 'Congress Bound To Sink' As Sonia Gandhi Likely Resign As Chief

Congress leaders write to Sonia Gandhi

Reportedly, several Congress leaders wrote to Congress president on August 12 calling for sweeping changes in party's functioning. Some of senior leaders who have reportedly signed  letter include Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari, Milind Deora, Mukul Wasnik, Jitin Prasada, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and Prithviraj Chavan. y observed that uncertainly over leadership and drift in party have weakened Congress and demoralized workers. letter reportedly mentioned many suggestions such as need for a full-time leadership available at national and state headquarters, conducting elections at all levels including Congress Working Committee and state level, formation of an Independent Election Authority, and institutional leadership mechanism to guide party's revival. 

Read: Amid Congress Rumblings, Bhupesh Baghel Urges Rahul Gandhi To Take Over As Party President

Adhir Chowdhury slams dissenters

Earlier in day, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury appealed to Sonia Gandhi to continue as party president. According to him, party's future was safe only in hands of Sonia Gandhi or her son Rahul. He alleged that some party leaders were deliberately attempting to weaken Congress and derail Gandhi family's efforts to take on  Modi government. Chowdhury accused dissenters of raising "bogey" of a leadership crisis at behest of some interested parties.