Infighting among staff is rampant, tensions in the headquarters are rising, and senior leaders face restrictions on bringing personal staff.
New Delhi: All is not well within the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi and his team have made a series of poor decisions, pushing the party into a crisis where leaders and workers are left confused about their next steps. There is growing concern among party members about what exactly Rahul Gandhi wants. With each successive defeat, the party is weakening, and as a result, fear among leaders and workers has diminished. This has forced Rahul Gandhi to take strict action against some personal staff members of his sister, Priyanka Gandhi. Reports suggest that those removed were facing serious corruption allegations.
There are also indications that one or two in-charge secretaries appointed in Uttar Pradesh are under Rahul’s radar. Timely intervention prevented a bigger crisis for the party, but this situation has arisen due to the weakening organizational structure, where new leaders and workers have lost their sense of discipline. Infighting among staff members has become rampant, and tensions between the new and old headquarters are growing, which is not benefiting the party. Many senior office bearers have shifted to the new office, but they cannot bring in their personal staff or workers without seeking approval from junior officials stationed there.
The party appears to be in complete disarray. Senior leaders have chosen to remain silent. While Rahul Gandhi has made some organizational changes, they seem more experimental than strategic. K.C. Venugopal continues as the General Secretary (Organization), and Jairam Ramesh remains in his position. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has been made the General Secretary in charge of Punjab, replacing Devendra Yadav. However, these changes have not sent a strong message that the organization is undergoing meaningful reform.
Some experienced leaders, like V.K. Hariprasad, have made a comeback and have been assigned Haryana. However, it remains to be seen how effective this new team will be. Notably, Priyanka Gandhi remains a General Secretary without a specific charge. Many of the leaders Rahul has entrusted with responsibilities have a history of failures, raising doubts about whether the party’s challenges will ease anytime soon.
The controversy surrounding Priyanka Gandhi’s staff has added to Rahul’s troubles. Reports suggest that a senior party leader brought the issue to Rahul’s attention, prompting Priyanka to inform him of the severity of the situation. Several cases have emerged involving Priyanka’s staff and even a national-level party secretary. Sources claim that questionable land deals spanning from Himachal Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh are under scrutiny.
It is believed that one of Rahul’s personal staff members was keeping an eye on these irregularities. Following Rahul’s strong action, it is expected that the accused individuals will be gradually sidelined. However, the bigger question remains: when will the party’s internal functioning improve?
Sonia Gandhi’s Uncharacteristic Political Misstep
Recent incidents inside and outside Parliament have raised concerns. For the first time in her 25-year political career, Sonia Gandhi found herself facing direct attacks from political opponents. Reportedly, she made a controversial remark about President Droupadi Murmu after being encouraged by Rahul Gandhi’s aggressive stance. This was unusual for Sonia, who had previously avoided direct controversial statements.
As a result, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha, Sonia Gandhi was absent. Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi, who made headlines with her speech in the winter session, was not given a chance to speak this time. These incidents raise several questions about the party’s internal dynamics.
After the Delhi election defeat, the Congress initiated some organizational changes, but these have failed to create any positive impact. Party President Mallikarjun Kharge remains bound by the influence of 10 Janpath (the Gandhi family residence) and follows its directives. Meanwhile, K.C. Venugopal is perceived as more powerful within the organization.
Despite continued electoral defeats and an increasingly fragile organizational structure, Rahul Gandhi appears to be taking matters lightly. Following the Delhi debacle, even Congress’ allies seem to be distancing themselves from the party. This has created a peculiar situation for the Congress, which is expected to face even greater challenges.
With the Bihar elections scheduled for this year and several other state elections next year, Congress is heading toward a crucial phase. The semi-final battle for 2027 is also on the horizon. However, given the party’s current state, these upcoming challenges seem only to be growing more difficult.