Mutiny in the ranks: Congressmen against Rahul

Fissures have begun to appear within the Congress ranks and senior leaders have either quit the party citing humiliation or been expelled from their positions by the leadership. Rediff.com looks back at leaders who have taken a dim view of Rahul Gandhi's helmsmanship in the recent past. 

Former Union environment minister and Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan on Friday announced that she would quit the party.

Mounting a scathing attack on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Natarajan told a press conference that she was "vilified, humiliated and sidelined" by the central leadership.

Against this backdrop we look back at leaders, senior and young, who took contention with either something Rahul Gandhi said or did during and after the 2014 general elections.

1. Rajasthan MLA Bhanwar Lal Sharma

Calling Rahul an 'MD of the Congressi Circus', Sharma had said party President Sonia Gandhi should shift her focus towards strengthening and restructuring the party in a democratic manner instead of showing affection for Rahul.

"The people who are around him (Rahul) are jokers. He is the MD of a team of jokers," Sharma said in 2014.

"Rahul Gandhi is directionless and has no policy. He and his advisors are responsible for the party's embarrassment and defeat in elections as there is no huge mass support for him," Sharma had said.

2. Former Kerala minister T H Mustafa

Mustafa had said that Rahul Gandhi should quit from his post and if he does not, he should be removed.

"Rahul behaved like a joker and that’s the reason why the Congress suffered a major reversal in the Lok Sabha polls. The role of a prime minister is not child’s play and the people knew it and handed out the worst defeat to the Congress party. He should take responsibility and quit and if not he should be removed and Priyanka Gandhi should be made the new president of the party," he said.

"His (Rahul’s) mad style of working using computer and internet and in the company of a group of Congress Working Committee members who only praise whatever he does has caused this defeat. It's unfortunate that even A K Antony belongs to this group," said Mustafa.

3. Former MP and senior leader Gufran Azam

In July 2014, senior Congress leader Azam had accused party president Sonia Gandhi of forcing Rahul Gandhi on the party for the last 10 years though he lacked leadership qualities. The 68-year-old leader had said, “Rahul has developed neither the art of speaking nor imbibed political thinking.”

In a letter addressed to Sonia, he had said, 'You have shown excessive fondness for son rather than the party. All parents want their children to excel but not every son lives up to the expectation.' The veteran had pointed that rival parties attacked Rahul Gandhi by calling him “Munna”, “Pappu” and “leader with low IQ”.

4. Former Union minister and Congress veteran K Natwar Singh

Led by Rahul Gandhi, the Congress patented its worst performance ever in the Lok Sabha election, former Singh had said in 2014. Singh, who has written a tell-all autobiography, much to the consternation of the Congress leadership, said, "For politics, you must have fire in your belly. I don't think he has that fire."

5. Youth Congress vice president C R Mahesh

Speaking at a Youth Congress camp held at Neyyar, state Youth Congress vice president C R Mahesh had said, "Tughlaq-like reforms 'imposed' on the youth and campus wings of the party had failed to make any impact."

Mahesh said he was airing this view as a committed and loyal Youth Congress activist who wanted the organisation to gain strength to meet the emerging challenges.

He also said many decisions concerning the organisation were taken without sufficiently consulting experienced leaders.

Although Mahesh did not specifically name Rahul, the reforms he spoke of were initiated by the party vice president.

6. G K Vasan

Vasan quit the Congress on November 3, 2014, alleging that the state units were being ignored by the high command and highlighting the poor management of party affairs by some of the top leaders at Delhi.

He had then announced he would float a new regional party that would "fulfil the aspirations" of the people of Tamil Nadu.

"You don't need to wait for high command leaders (for decisions). There is no need to be angry over (central) observers not concerned about the party. There is no need to wait in airport for leaders who do not understand the problems of people of the state," he lashed out at the Congress, but did not target any leader including the top leadership.

While Vasan did not name any leaders in particular, those in the know say he intended them to be directed at Rahul.

7. Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla

In the north-eastern state of Mizoram, five-time Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had told party workers last year that the Congress paid for its "misdeeds" and did not know how to face defeat.

Thanhawla's sentiments are being echoed by many veteran Congress leaders.