Congress Grapples With Deepening Internal Communication Crisis
Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi has raised alarming concerns about a significant communication gap within the party, highlighting the lack of an effective platform for dialogue and limited access to top leadership. In a candid interview with news agency ANI, Alvi emphasized that this issue has created serious internal challenges for the grand old party.
Accessibility Issues Plague Party Workers
Alvi pointed out that party workers frequently complain about the difficulty in meeting the Congress high command. "I haven't seen Shakeel ji's statement, but a major problem in the Congress party is that there is no forum where issues can be discussed," Alvi stated. He contrasted the current situation with the accessibility of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, who made time to meet everyone.
"It is generally difficult to meet leaders. If people want to express their concerns, where can they go? Not everyone is a member of the CWC. There is definitely a communication gap. This is a major problem within the Congress party, and many people complain that it is not easy to meet the Congress high command. This communication gap must be eliminated," Alvi emphasized.
Muslim Leadership Exodus Raises Concerns
Alvi also expressed serious apprehension about the departure of several Muslim leaders from the Congress party. He suggested that if Muslim leadership continues to be ignored, leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi will keep emerging as powerful political forces.
"Muslim leaders have not left out of greed for power. They have left, and this is a matter of concern, because Muslim leadership has been ignored in the Congress party," Alvi remarked. "If Muslim leadership is ignored, then leaders like Owaisi will continue to emerge in the country. Today, Owaisi is becoming a powerful force."
Calls for Comprehensive Internal Dialogue
Meanwhile, Congress leader Anant Gadgil has called for urgent introspection following the party's lackluster performance in recent Maharashtra municipal elections. Gadgil stressed that the Congress must reconnect with its core workers and rural base to ensure its survival.
Gadgil emphasized that the party needs to look inward at a time when political discourse is dominated by the BJP's victories and internal bickering within the ruling Mahayuti over mayoral posts. "Instead of holding any single individual responsible, the party must engage in a comprehensive internal dialogue," Gadgil asserted.
He also highlighted the need for the Congress to adapt to rapid urbanization in Maharashtra by promoting leaders who command genuine public respect and middle-class support, moving beyond traditional political calculations.
Previous Criticisms and Growing Discontent
These concerns follow former Congress MP Shakeel Ahmed's scathing remarks against Rahul Gandhi regarding the party's consistent electoral failures. Ahmed took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, stating, "Even if Rahul Gandhi wants, he still can't take Congress below the second position. The reason is that every other party is only in one state."
Ahmed also alleged that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is "uncomfortable" collaborating with popular veteran leaders and claimed there is no internal democracy in the Congress party. "There is no internal democracy in the Congress party. Whatever Rahul Gandhi says is final," Ahmed alleged.
This is not an isolated incident of discontent within the party. Recently, former Odisha MLA Mohammed Moquim wrote to Sonia Gandhi, calling for "open-heart surgery" in the party and flagging a growing disconnect between leadership and workers. In his detailed five-page letter, Moquim revealed he had not been granted an audience with Rahul Gandhi for nearly three years, describing this as a reflection of wider emotional disconnect felt by workers across India.
