Ghulam Nabi Azad Quits Congress, Criticizes Rahul Gandhi
Ghulam Nabi Azad, the veteran leader of India’s main opposition party, the Congress, resigned on Friday, speaking to the influential Gandhian family about the end of the party that has dominated Indian politics for decades. He issued a scathing letter of resignation denouncing his descendant, Rahul Gandhi.
The 137-year-old party, which has traditionally promoted a secular state after ruling much of India’s post-independence, has come to a standstill against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). .
The BJP has won two consecutive landslide general elections since his 2014, and by 2024 it seems likely that he will win the next general election.
Former federal minister Ghulam Nabi Azad says he is leaving parliament after nearly 50 years, blaming the failure of party leader Sonia Gandhi’s son Rahul Gandhi, the party’s de facto vice chairman did.
“Unfortunately, after Sri Rahul Gandhi entered politics, and especially after your appointment as Vice President in January 2013, the entire advisory body that existed until then was destroyed by him.”
“All senior and experienced leaders were marginalized and a new faction of inexperienced toads began to run the party’s affairs.”
BJP Leader
Rahul Gandhi could not be reached for comment. Jairam Ramesh, a parliamentary spokesman, questioned the timing of Azad’s letter, coming as the party was working to organize a nationwide campaign against price increases, employment and religious polarization. said.
“It is very disappointing and very disappointing that I had to read this letter at this time which was leaked to the press,” Ramesh said.
Rahul Gandhi, the son and grandson of former prime minister Rahul Gandhi, was sworn in as Speaker of the House of Commons in 2017 in an unsuccessful fight by Modi to prevent him from winning a second term.
He left the party’s leadership in July 2019 after months of hesitation, but remains a highly influential figure within Congress.
“Unfortunately, at the national level, we have given the political space available to the BJP and regional parties at the state level,” Azad said. “All this happened because the leadership has been trying to push a questionable person into the party leadership for the past eight years.
The BJP is expected to win his third straight term in the next election unless the different opposition parties can band together to overcome his Modi popularity.