On Thursday, Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had urged the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to hold leadership elections to “energise workers and inspire voters”.
Tharoor’s appeal came in support of his party colleague and former MP Sandeep Dikshit’s statement that the biggest challenge the party faces is the “leadership question”.
Dikshit has accused senior leaders of failing to find a new president after all these months because they are “scared who will bell the cat”.
Shashi Tharoor reacted to the remarks and tweeted, “What Sandeep Dikshit said openly is what dozens of party leaders from across the country are saying privately, including many with responsible positions in the party. I renew my appeal to CWC to hold leadership elections to energise workers and inspire voters.”
“Some have asked who should vote and for what. I was referring to my earlier call eight months ago for elections among the 10,000 party workers who constitute the ‘AICC plus PCC delegates’ list. These should be for the elected seats in the CWC as well as for the party presidency,” Tharoor said.
What @SandeepDikshit said openly is what dozens of party leaders from across the country are saying privately, incl many w/ responsible positions in the Party. I renew my appeal toCWC to hold leadership elections to energise workers&inspire voters. https://t.co/cotzJsRZnm
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 20, 2020
Some have asked who should vote & for what. I was referring to my earlier call eight months ago for elections among the 10,000 party workers who constitute the “AICC plus PCC delegates” list. These should be for the elected seats in the CWC as well as for the Party Presidency.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 20, 2020
Nirupam responded to Tharoor’s call for elections, saying Rahul Gandhi was the “only leader” who could “save the party.” He tweeted: “It’s inane discussion. No one from outside the family can lead Congress at this juncture. Rahul Gandhi is the only leader who can lead the party and can save it. Other leaders are just a group leader and such leaders at the helm will encourage more groupism. Period!”
Its inane discussion. No one from outside the family can lead @INCIndia at this juncture. @RahulGandhi is the only leader who can lead the party and can save it. Other leaders are just a group leader & such leaders at the helm will encourage more groupism. Period ! pic.twitter.com/fOaXW1B3rc
— Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) February 20, 2020
The “leadership question” within the Congress comes after the party failed to win a single seat in the recent Delhi Assembly elections.
