On the occasion of the Indian National Congress's 140th foundation day, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Revanth Reddy publicly lauded the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, highlighting her pivotal role in shaping the party's modern trajectory. His comments arrive amidst a simmering internal debate within the party, recently ignited by senior leader Digvijaya Singh's remarks on organisational structure.
Reddy's Tribute to Sonia Gandhi's Legacy
In a detailed post on social media platform X, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy described the Congress as the foundational force of Indian democracy. He emphasized that the party's story is inseparable from the nation's democratic journey. Reddy specifically pointed to Sonia Gandhi's "service, commitment, ethics and values" as defining features of her leadership.
He credited Gandhi with enabling the rise of leaders from diverse backgrounds to the country's highest office. P V Narasimha Rao, who began his public life in a remote Telangana village, became Prime Minister under her leadership, Reddy noted. Similarly, he stated that Dr. Manmohan Singh, an economist, was elevated to the prime ministerial position because of Sonia Gandhi's support. Reddy concluded that from the freedom struggle to constitution-making and nation-building, the Congress has authored every major chapter of contemporary India.
The Context: Digvijaya Singh's Provocative Remarks
Reddy's praise for centralised leadership contrasts sharply with the recent comments from senior Congress figure Digvijaya Singh. Singh had earlier shared an old photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting with L.K. Advani in Gujarat, using it to applaud the RSS's organisational strength that allows grassroots workers to rise to the top.
This praise for the RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP, stirred significant controversy. Singh tagged top Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in his post, indirectly urging introspection within his own party. Reports from the recent Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting suggest Singh expressed concerns about "over-centralisation" and advocated for greater decentralisation of power.
Internal Calls for Reform
Digvijaya Singh has been vocal about the need for internal reforms. He questioned why decisions made at the Udaipur Chintan Shivir, such as forming an election management department, remain unimplemented. He also critiqued the practice of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) appointing state and district chiefs without adequate local consultation.
In a separate post directed at Rahul Gandhi, Singh gave him "full marks" for his focus on socio-economic issues but urged him to turn his reformist zeal inward. "Like the Election Commission needs reforms, so does the Indian National Congress," Singh wrote. He acknowledged Gandhi's initiation of the 'Sangathan Srijan' initiative but called for more pragmatic and decentralised functioning, humorously adding that the "only problem" is convincing him.
The juxtaposition of Revanth Reddy's commendation of centralised leadership under Sonia Gandhi and Digvijaya Singh's push for decentralisation underscores the ongoing tension within the Congress party. As it celebrates 140 years, the party grapples with defining its future structure and leadership model in the face of persistent electoral challenges.
