Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said the Gandhi family alone cannot be held responsible for the Congress party’s recent electoral defeat in five states. Targeting the “G-23” of the Congress, he said that they should not do party-breaking work.
Like many Congress leaders, Chidambaram also confirmed that Sonia Gandhi had offered to step down along with her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Sunday.
In conversation with NDT, Chidambaram said, “The Gandhi family offered to step down, but it was not accepted by the CWC. So, what option do we have now? We need to expedite the process of electing a new Congress president.” But at the earliest it could be by August. But what can we do between now and August? Till then I and others believe that Mrs. Gandhi continues to lead the charge.”
He said that Sonia Gandhi had suggested early elections, but most of the leaders did not agree. Let us tell you that “G-23” leaders like Kapil Sibal have been openly calling on the Gandhi family to make way for a new leadership to revive the poll-battered party.
Chidambaram said it was wrong to say that only the Gandhi family should be held responsible for the recent defeat. “The Gandhi family accepted the responsibility, just as I accepted the responsibility for Goa, and others took the responsibility of defeat in other states,” he said.
The former finance minister said, “Congress elections are in August. Are you suggesting that we choose an interim president to replace the interim president (Sonia Gandhi) for three months. I am sure in August we will have a full time will lead.”
Chidambaram told NDTV, “No one is running away from responsibility. But the responsibility lies with everyone in leadership positions, be it at the block, district, state and AICC (All India Congress Committee) level. Suffice it to say Not that the AICC leadership is responsible.”