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State of Congress: a party cut off from society, preoccupied with leadership

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7 years ago

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State of Congress: a party cut off from society, preoccupied with leadership

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Rajesh Sinha

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today to discuss the party’s second successive humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha elections went along expected lines.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi offered to step down from his position. CWC rejected it unanimously.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the CWC has given its party chief Rahul Gandhi the right to make changes to restructure the party. He said that a plan for this will be brought soon.

The meeting was attended by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, chief ministers of party-ruled states and other top leaders from across the country. Congress won just 52 seats in the 542-member lower house, up from 44 seats it had secured in its worst-ever performance in the 2014 general elections.

Rahul Gandhi, according to media reports, is adamant at quitting his post and has also told party leaders not to choose his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to replace him. The unsaid part is the intention to counter the criticism of the party belonging to the ‘dynasty’.

The deliberations of the Congress always go along the same lines with similar decisions. It is a classic example of “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. It may not be insanity, as the quote, widely attributed to Albert Einstein, defines it, but it certainly depicts loss of organisational memory, lack of imagination, and laziness of thought translated into lack of action on the ground.

A day earlier, media reports said there have been voices within to introspect on why the party failed to reach out to the people. The Congress’s unprecedented slide has raised questions about both its future and the role of the Nehru-Gandhi family, which led the party through some of its most glorious days, said reports.

The most crucial aspect that needs to be fixed is missing in all the deliberations the party has held.

The party badly needs to put its organisation in order (or, as some would say, ‘build an organisation’ to begin with), work out a clear stand on social and political issues, and establish a connect with the people.

The BJP is the only party that engages with society in its political work which is complemented by its associated outfits in the RSS fraternity. They run schools, they organise functions, yatras, celebrate festivals, et al. Congress leaders hold only iftar parties, at the most.

The party needs to be in touch with what is happening in society – ‘feel its pulse’, so to say. This is sorely missing. The Congress does not only lack a social agenda to guide and lead the people, it is out of touch with them.

During Narendra Modi government first term, NDA-II, there were several occasions when different sections of people in different parts of the country held strong protest rallies and marches. All that energy went waste without Congress or any other opposition party tapping into it. Where was the Congress when people were getting lynched and ‘gaurakshaks’ were on rampage? What did it do when JNU students and the institution itself was targeted? Where was it when farmers protests – the strongest in decades – happened, and happened repeatedly? What did it do to organise or mobilise the lakhs of students and unemployed youth?

The Congress was unaware of their resentment till it was out in the open. The party didn’t have a clue any such issue existed. When the protests happened, the Congress issued statements expressing its support. But the party was never seen with the people, working on the ground. The support was confined to press conferences.

Congress spokespersons would issue a statement and the job was considered done. Sometimes, to express stronger support, the statement would come from Rahul Gandhi himself. That was the highest level of engagement with people and social issues.

This was not always the case with Congress. Congress workers would take out ‘prabhatpheris’ in which they would go out and meet/contact people in morning walks, hold ‘chaupal’ in villages and talk about social issues, social reform or politics. That was about three decades ago: a long long time.Now they are not to be seen anywhere. What stops the Congress from running schools and hospitals, theatre programmes, promoting artists, sportspersons, centres of wings to help resolve people’s problems? Just lack of imagination and thought.

The Congressalso needs to give up its reliance only on a leader at the top to build its political capital. In fact, from the time of Indira Gandhi onwards, the party has relied exclusively on a top leader to get votes. Everything is top-down.

This was brought out hilariously in an interview of Congress leader and Madhya Pradesh chief minister in The Indian Express:

“Q. To what do you attribute the rout the Congress suffered in Madhya Pradesh?

  1. An assessment will be made…I have not been in touch with Delhi yet.”

A state’s chief minister needs the party’s central leadership to tell him what went wrong, or approve his assessment.

This needs to change, and it has to go to the bottom of the party – even if this change is also ordered from the top.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Centre ready for NEET debate in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi’s paper leak claims to be investigated: JP Nadda

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the government is prepared for a detailed Parliament debate on the NEET paper leak issue and will investigate Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of multiple paper leaks over the last decade.

Published

2 days ago

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July 22, 2026

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JP-Nadda

The Centre has reiterated its willingness to hold a detailed discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament, with Union Health Minister JP Nadda saying the government is prepared for a debate of any duration. He also said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of around 152 examination paper leaks over the past 10 years would be investigated.

Government open to debate of any duration

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, JP Nadda said the government has consistently supported a discussion on the paper leak issue in Parliament. He stated that the Opposition could decide the duration of the debate through the Business Advisory Committee, whether it is a short discussion or one extending to 12 or even 18 hours.

Nadda, who is also the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, said the government remains fully prepared for a comprehensive discussion and urged the Opposition not to shift its position on the issue.

Rahul Gandhi’s paper leak allegations to be examined

Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s recent presentation, Nadda said the Congress leader referred to nearly 150 paper leak incidents over the last decade. He described those claims as a matter that requires investigation and said the government would examine the allegations before presenting the facts to the public.

According to Nadda, a responsible government is committed to verifying such claims and ensuring that the truth is established through due investigation.

Calls for a united approach on NEET issue

Highlighting the significance of the matter, Nadda said the future of students should remain the top priority for both the government and the Opposition. He appealed to political parties to work together in finding a long-term solution to prevent examination irregularities.

He added that safeguarding the interests of students is a shared responsibility and called for constructive cooperation instead of political differences.

Nadda on meeting with CJP representatives

The Union Minister also spoke about his recent interaction with representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). He said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, during which the government listened to their concerns and asked them to submit their suggestions in writing.

Nadda said the government remains open to further discussions whenever required and clarified that no meeting with the group was held on Wednesday.

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Opposition demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before NEET discussion in Parliament

The Opposition has demanded Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before any discussion on the NEET paper leak in Parliament, while the Centre says it is fully prepared for a debate.

Published

2 days ago

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July 22, 2026

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The political deadlock over the NEET paper leak issue continued in Parliament on Wednesday, with Opposition parties demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before any discussion takes place. The Centre, however, maintained that it is fully prepared to debate the matter during the ongoing Monsoon Session.

Leading the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said there could be no fair discussion on the NEET issue unless Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post.

Centre rejects Opposition’s condition

Responding to the Opposition’s demand, Leader of the House JP Nadda said the government was not avoiding a discussion and remained open to debating all issues, including the alleged NEET paper leak.

He said the government had already made its position clear and described it as transparent, adding that it was willing to discuss every matter raised by the Opposition.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also reiterated that the Centre had been ready for discussions since the beginning of the Monsoon Session. He said the government had consistently conveyed its willingness to debate the NEET issue and other important matters.

Rijiju added that if the Opposition was looking for reasons to avoid a discussion, it would not be appropriate. According to him, the procedure and timing of the debate would be decided after consultations among all parties under the Chair’s guidance.

Opposition maintains resignation demand

The government also informed the House that its willingness to discuss the issue had been communicated to Congress leaders and representatives of other political parties.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed the Opposition’s stand, saying students were seeking the resignation of the Education Minister before any discussion. He asserted that the resignation should come first, followed by parliamentary debate on the issue.

Akhilesh Yadav also joined Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs during a march towards the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi on Tuesday as part of the protest over the NEET controversy.

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Dharmendra Pradhan accuses Rahul Gandhi of exploiting students over NEET protest

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of exploiting students during the NEET protest, while reiterating the Centre’s commitment to discussing the issue in Parliament and implementing reforms.

Published

3 days ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

Dharmendra Pradhan

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the protest held outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday, accusing the Opposition of using students for political purposes amid the controversy over the NEET paper leak and other examination-related issues.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress leaders and workers staged the protest, raising concerns over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination leaks. The demonstration also highlighted the alleged police action against students who participated in a march to Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) a day earlier.

The protest continued until the evening before police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders. They were later released the same night.

Pradhan says Parliament discussion was offered

Responding to the protest, Mr Pradhan alleged that the Congress was attempting to create disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament by turning students into political tools. He also claimed the demonstration violated security protocols and caused inconvenience to the public.

The minister referred to remarks made by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who had earlier said he spoke with Rahul Gandhi during the protest. According to Mr Singh, the Centre agreed to hold a discussion in Parliament on the paper leak issue, but Rahul Gandhi later added another demand after that assurance.

Mr Pradhan said the government had already expressed its willingness to hold a comprehensive discussion on the issue in Parliament, but alleged that the Congress preferred political confrontation over democratic debate.

Centre reiterates commitment to students

The Education Minister said the government remains committed to discussing the NEET controversy and addressing the concerns of students and young people through Parliament.

In a post on X, Mr Pradhan said students deserve certainty, solutions and accountability rather than political confrontation. He added that the Centre remains committed to delivering reforms and answering students’ concerns while working to strengthen the examination system.

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