The Congress has issued a virtual gag order on party men talking publicly about the leadership issue. AICC has asked them to express their views and opinion only at party fora. The gag order comes after senior leaders like Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, former MP and Dikshit’s son Sandeep, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed their views on the leadership crisis within the party and role of incumbent chief Sonia Gandhi and second in command Rahul Gandhi.
AICC spokesperson PC Chacko on Wednesday asked senior leaders to refrain from making open comments on the leadership issue to avoid unnecessary controversy. “Senior leaders should refrain from making open comments. They should not create unnecessary controversy as interested sections want to create confusion,” Chacko said at AICC briefing when countered with volley of questions on the issue.
Dikshit’s comments came at a time when Congress appears divided on whether to anoint Rahul as the party president, replacing his mother Sonia. Senior party leaders Amarinder Singh and Dikshit’s son Sandeep, too, have aired reservations over Rahul’s elevation. He further said that any suggestion about there being differences between Sonia and Rahul was “completely wrong”. Chacko added that the entire party was in “full support” of both leaders, whose leadership is “totally acceptable” to all. Chacko’s remarks came in the wake of Dikshit saying there was “scepticism” over Rahul’s leadership qualities even as she pitched for Sonia to continue at Congress helm. Asked about the former Delhi Chief Minister’s remarks, Chacko said that she had already given a clarification in that regard.