In the backdrop of the political crisis in Karnataka and Goa, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said that the Congress party is facing testing times and needs an immediate revival through a young and energetic leadership.
"We need to strengthen the Congress in this hour of tension. A serious situation has arisen after Rahul's Gandhi's decision to quit as the party president. There is a need of young and energetic party chief who could communicate his energy throughout the country," said Scindia.
While talking to media persons in the State assembly premises, Scindia said, “We had never imagined that Rahul Gandhi, who not only led the Congress but also the country’s people, would leave his post. This is a serious time for the Congress.”
"The party must move ahead together on the path shown by Rahul Gandhi to win back the trust of the country again," he added.
The former union minister said efforts to persuade Gandhi to continue leading the party had failed. “Our effort was to convince Rahulji to continue. But, Rahulji remains firm on whatever decision he takes and I am proud of that. We have to search a new party president. A lot of time has elapsed. Now, we cannot allow more time to pass,” he said. To a query, he said that it is he (Rahul Gandhi) to decide his future role in the party.
Scindia said the decision on a new Congress chief should be taken at the earliest and opportunity given to a leader who can infuse a new energy into the party. Asked about his name figuring in the race for AICC president, Scindia said, “Deciding about the party president would be a collective decision. The Congress Working Committee would take a decision. We all have to take a decision together,” he said.
The senior leader expressed confidence that the Congress-JDS coalition government would survive despite BJP's efforts to topple it. "The only intention of BJP is to murder and destroy democracy they did the same thing in Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur as well. I have full faith that the Congress-JDS government will survive in Karnataka," said Scindia.
