Political tensions boiled over in New Delhi as JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad criticized Congress’s leadership, specifically targeting Rahul Gandhi after Mani Shankar Aiyar’s explosive public rebukes of party peers. Prasad warned of an internal crisis and pressed Gandhi to pursue democratic reforms to prevent further disintegration.
‘All is not well in Congress, as Aiyar’s words make evident,’ Prasad stated, refraining from dissecting each comment but focusing on the broader leadership vacuum. He alleged Gandhi has lost the confidence of seniors, fueling an ongoing brain drain.
The controversy stems from Aiyar’s sharp words on Monday: branding Shashi Tharoor an ‘opportunistic turncoat,’ KC Venugopal a ‘goon,’ and Pawan Khera a ‘tattoo.’ Linked to Kerala poll preparations and systemic grievances, these have prompted opposition glee.
BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa chimed in with sarcasm: ‘Better late than never.’ He invoked Aiyar’s history of gaffes, like demeaning PM Modi as ‘chaiwala,’ and flipped the puppet accusation back on Congress.
With elections on the horizon, this public laundry-washing threatens Congress’s cohesion. Observers note it as symptomatic of deeper ideological and structural woes. For Rahul Gandhi, the message is clear: democratize or disintegrate, as rivals sharpen their knives.