New Delhi erupted in political fireworks on Wednesday as JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad launched a scathing attack on Congress following controversial statements by senior leader Mani Shankar Aiyar. Prasad accused the grand old party of being mired in internal turmoil, urging Rahul Gandhi to take democratic steps to rescue it from collapse.
Aiyar’s recent outbursts have exposed deep fractures within Congress. Speaking to the media, Prasad remarked, ‘What Aiyar does is his personal choice, but his comments clearly signal that all is not well inside Congress.’ He emphasized that instead of reacting to every remark, JD(U) advises Rahul Gandhi to prioritize rebuilding the party through transparent, democratic means.
The JD(U) leader highlighted Rahul’s failure to win the trust of senior leaders, pointing to a steady exodus of prominent figures from the party. This comes amid Aiyar’s public criticism of colleagues like Shashi Tharoor, whom he labeled an ‘opportunist without principles,’ KC Venugopal as a ‘rowdy,’ and Pawan Khera as a ‘tattoo.’
BJP legislator Vikram Randhawa joined the fray, quipping ‘Better late than never’ in reference to Aiyar’s awakening. He recalled Aiyar’s past ‘chaiwala’ slur against PM Modi and accused him of projecting his own party’s puppetry onto others.
This episode underscores Congress’s ongoing struggles ahead of key elections, including in Kerala. As opposition parties pile on, questions swirl about the party’s unity and leadership. Rahul Gandhi now faces mounting pressure to consolidate and steer Congress back to relevance in India’s cutthroat political arena.