NEW DELHI: The Congress party is facing a period of acute uncertainty as elections loom in four states. The planned Save MNREGA movement, initially scheduled to begin on January 4, was postponed to January 10 due to Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trip. Both Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi are currently abroad, while their mother Sonia Gandhi is reportedly unwell. Meanwhile, social media has been abuzz with speculation about organizational changes, creating confusion among party leaders and workers.
Reports suggest that National President Mallikarjun Kharge and Organization General Secretary K.C. Venugopal may be replaced, with names like Ajay Maken and Sachin Pilot emerging as potential successors. Some discussions have even formed around a new leadership trio comprising Rahul, Priyanka, and Sachin, with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel also linked to this group.
Internal power struggles are adding to the uncertainty. In Karnataka, Shivakumar is engaged in a tussle with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while Venugopal’s potential deployment to Kerala has sparked speculation due to the party’s improving fortunes there. Reports of infighting between Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are also affecting the party’s cohesion, as seen when Priyanka’s appointment to the Assam scrutiny committee drew criticism and ridicule from the BJP.
Despite announcing a nationwide MNREGA campaign, the Congress has struggled to gain traction, partly due to the government’s ongoing free food distribution and lack of coordination with opposition parties. Senior leaders’ apparent disinterest in the movement has further dampened morale. As elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam, and Kerala approach, Congress faces organizational weakness, leadership uncertainty, and emerging internal factions, raising concerns over its preparedness compared to rival parties actively mobilizing for the polls.
