Jha claims rumblings within Congress for leadership change
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 17
The Congress today vehemently denied claims by a suspended party leader, Sanjay Jha, that around 100 leaders unhappy with party affairs had petitioned Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to change the political leadership.
‘Dissenters active’
Around 100 Congress leaders, distressed at the state of affairs within the party, have written a letter to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, asking for change in political leadership.
Watch this space, Jha, a sacked party spokesman, wrote on Twitter, prompting Congress media head Randeep Surjewala to dismiss the claim as the BJP’s handiwork to divert attention from the Congress demand for a JPC probe against Facebook, which the Opposition party has accused of spreading hate and helping the BJP.
‘Misinformation’
Special Misinformation Group on Media-TV Debate Guidance in its Whatsapp directed to run the story of a non-existent letter of Congress leaders
“It is estimated that around 100 Congress leaders (including MP’s), distressed at the state of affairs within the party, have written a letter to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Congress President, asking for change in political leadership and transparent elections in CWC. Watch this space,” Jha tweeted today.
Surjewala counter tweeted, saying “To Whom It May Concern: Special Misinformation Group on Media-TV Debate Guidance” in its Whatsapp of today directed to run the story of a non-existent letter of Congress leaders to divert attention from Facebook-BJP links. Of course, BJP stooges have started acting upon it.”
Even as the party denied Jha’s claims, the letter remained in discussion in political circles today.
Strongly disapproving of any such potential move, former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said Sonia Gandhi must continue as party chief right now.
“Talk of elections in the party at this juncture with Sonia Gandhi at the helm as a uniting factor, are utterly misplaced… this is a time to forge the broadest consensus in the party and elections, even in the best of times tend to be divisive. The best way forward is to have a presidium of leaders under the leadership of Mrs Gandhi, till such time as the situation demands. Now is not the time for elections, may be later.”
