Tarun Gogoi’s First-Hand Account Of What Happened In Congress Working Committee Meetings

Tarun Gogoi’s First-Hand Account Of What Happened In Congress Working Committee Meetings
Congress President Rahul Gandhi after paying tribute to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 55th death anniversary, at his memorial Shanti Van in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)

The Congress is facing a leadership crisis in the aftermath of the Lok Sabha elections. While several media reports said party president Rahul Gandhi is adamant on stepping down, the Congress Working Committee members are opposing the decision. So, what transpired in the meetings?

Rahul Gandhi has made his decision non-negotiable and was very persistent about stepping down and making way for a new leader, Former Assam Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member Tarun Gogoi said. “He agreed to continue in the short term until a new structure or leader is appointed.”

The idea of Rahul continuing as an interim president, according to Gogoi, was suggested by his sister and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Rahul has made it clear that he isn't running away and will continue his “ideological fight” with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Narendra Modi, Gogoi told BloombergQuint over the phone.

The Congress suffered a massive electoral defeat in the 2019 general election as it managed to send only 52 MPs to the Lok Sabha. The party also failed to sustain its 2018 assembly victory in the Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The Congress, too, was defeated in Karnataka where the BJP won 25 of the 28 seats.

Listen to the full conversation with Gogoi here:

Here are the edited excerpts of the interview:

As the party introspects on its performance, there is speculation on what is going on in the CWC meeting. Can you clear the air on what Mr Gandhi put forth at the meetings?

We have not yet constituted a committee. He doesn't want to continue. We couldn't discuss much because he wanted to resign and he wanted his resignation to be accepted. He wanted a new president to be elected. We put all sorts of pressure on him to continue. We do feel that this is the time he shouldn't leave the party. But unfortunately, he was adamant and he wanted to resign. He made it very clear that it is non-negotiable. He was also persistent. We are also persistent that we will not accept his resignation. We are also adamant that we are not going to elect a new president. After long persuasion, he agreed to continue for a short term.

Reports have been that he has agreed to stay on only till the new leader is elected. Not beyond?

Yes, he will only stay until a new structure and new leadership is in place. There is no doubt about it.

If any party president is insistent on quitting and you say he is adamant as was the CWC, then how long will the CWC keep him in the chair against his will? That is not healthy for a party, is it?

If that is the case then I don't think we can keep him indefinitely. I am not in favour of that. I don't think the party can function without a head.

Are you saying that the CWC too has come to the view that this will be an interim arrangement and is acknowledging the reality that Rahul Gandhi will have his way and his days are numbered?

No. We want him to continue. But he has agreed, and it is not our case. We want him to continue but he will do it for the interim period. This suggestion came from Priyanka for him to continue for the interim period at least till the new structures are made. It is for him to continue for the interim period. But for us, we want him to continue. He should revise his decision. Pressure has been going on. But he is adamant, persistent and still sticking to his earlier stand that a new president should be elected.

Political parties around the world have let the leaders quit after loss. Why should this be different? In this case, the head of the party wants to go. It is not that somebody has to force him out.

We didn't accept it and he wanted to resign. He took full responsibility. It is not his fault, but it is we who refused to accept it. He is not a king to continue as Congress president and he is the man who wanted to resign. But at the same time he wants to fight against the BJP government, against their ideology. He has made it clear that he is not running away. He is fighting against ideology. He has made it clear that he will help the newly elected Congress president. He will strengthen his hand. He will make his position much easier. That assurance he has given.

Then why is that not acceptable to the party?

We want him to remain as our captain. But if he doesn't continue, then we have to find out some other ways.

Has the party thought about a plan B? How is it proposed to bring out a new leader?

The Congress has faced crisis earlier too. We know how to survive. I was there in 1969 also. Indira Gandhi was expelled from the party. Again in 1977, she was ousted. The new Congress came up. Ultimately, it is proved that people in India recognised Indira Gandhi in those days, whatever you call it, dynasty or else. The Congress was against Indiraji, whether Atulya Ghosh or Morarji Desai, and despite that people didn't accept it. So, they were talking about dynasty. Why did the Indian people accept Indiraji? Why didn't they accept Morarji Desai? I am talking about dynasty. People accepted Indira's Congress as a real Congress. So, that family has a certain influence and they have sacrificed.

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