New Delhi: The resignation of Assam MP Pradyut Bordoloi has placed the Congress party’s central leadership in the dock. Coming just ahead of the elections, this resignation has once again exposed the shortcomings of the strategists advising the Congress’s top leader, Rahul Gandhi. The wave of resignations that has been sweeping through Assam over the past few days could soon spread to other states; the recent Rajya Sabha elections have already laid the groundwork for this. In Assam, Bordoloi tendered his resignation at a time when the dates for the Assembly elections had already been announced. Prior to him, former State President Bhupen Borah had resigned. Following Borah’s resignation, several other Congress members also quit the party to join the BJP. In reality, the Congress High Command sowed the seeds of discontent within the party by appointing Gaurav Gogoi as the State President. Gaurav is the son of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. The High Command promoted dynastic politics not only for the post of State President but also for the position of Leader of the Opposition. Devabrata Saikia—son of former Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia—was appointed as the Leader of the Legislative Party. This brand of dynastic politics became the primary cause of the growing resentment.
Gaurav Gogoi is considered a close confidant of Rahul Gandhi. The party is currently passing through a peculiar phase; leaders who are close to Rahul appear to be prioritizing their own personal interests over the interests of the party, a trend that is ultimately causing damage to the organization. Assam has emerged as the most glaring example of this phenomenon. The current dismal state of affairs in Assam prevails precisely because those managing the party’s responsibilities there are the very individuals closest to Rahul. Along with Gogoi, the party in-charge Jitendra Singh and the Legislative Party Leader Saikia are also considered to be within Rahul’s inner circle. His sister, Priyanka, oversaw the work of the Screening Committee, while observers Bhupesh Baghel and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar—both trusted aides of the Gandhi family—are currently supervising operations. Yet, despite this extensive oversight, the party remained completely oblivious to the impending resignation of its own Member of Parliament.
What has happened in Assam has happened. Following Assam, there are indications that significant political upheavals are likely to unfold in Haryana, Punjab, Odisha, and Himachal Pradesh as well. The cross-voting witnessed in Haryana and Odisha is bound to yield serious consequences. In Odisha, the Congress party has expelled the MLAs who engaged in cross-voting; this move will further weaken the party’s standing in the state, making it difficult to retain the remaining legislators. The party’s affairs in Odisha are currently being managed by Ajay Kumar Lallu—a close confidant of Rahul and Priyanka—while Bhakta Charan Das, another member of their inner circle, also holds influence there; yet, the situation remains dire. By expelling Ramesh Jena, Dasharathi Gomango, and Sofia Firdous, the party has effectively paved the way for them to join the BJP.
In Haryana, however, it appears unlikely that the party will take punitive action—such as expulsion—against those who cross-voted. Nevertheless, Ram Kishan Gurjar, the party’s Acting State President, has already tendered his resignation. In Haryana, the party is effectively being run by Bhupinder Hooda—a close associate of Rahul Gandhi—and his MP son; notably, this marks the third instance of cross-voting within the party. The manner in which other leaders are being sidelined within the Haryana Congress is bound to have grave, long-term repercussions. In the coming days, a wave of resignations could potentially begin in Haryana as well. In Himachal Pradesh, the manner in which Anurag Sharma was nominated to the Rajya Sabha has sparked simmering resentment within the party ranks. With state elections scheduled for next year in Himachal, disgruntled Congress members are reportedly preparing to form a “Third Front.” As the elections draw closer, Himachal Pradesh, too, runs the risk of mirroring the chaotic political situation currently prevailing in Assam.
