After a staggering defeat in the national election, the Congress is battling the blame-game. Congress leaders Milind Deora and Priya Dutt appeared to criticise the party leadership.
“Field party work & electoral battles are key to comprehend ground realities. This should form the basis for leadership posts in Congress,” Mr. Deora tweeted on a day a newspaper report quoted him as saying that “those with no electoral experience’ were calling the shots in the party and those taking advice should also bear responsibility.
“My comments are out of emotions of deep loyalty to the party, pain of our performance & a sincere desire to see us bounce back. Nothing more,” he added. His comments were seen as a critique of Rahul Gandhi, who led the party’s national election campaign, and his advisers.
Mr. Deora, a former union minister who lost his seat in Maharashtra, is the first Congress leader to go public with his criticism.
Two-time MP Priya Dutt, who also lost the polls, said for cautiously, “I would not really like to talk about Milind’s comments but there is disconnect between people on the ground and top leaders. The top leadership should take opinion from a wide range of people and MPs.”
Ms Dutt met party president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi today.
Responding to Mr. Deora’s comments, Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi said, “After a win, this question is not applicable. Only after loss, the question is apt. Yesterday those who used to praise Rahul Gandhi, now they are blaming him. Rahul has taken full responsibility for the results.”
