With the ambit of the G23 growing, the Gandhis have now reached out to the “rebel” camp with an indication that the leaders will be included in important decision-making bodies, such as the crucial Central Election Committee (CEC). But, the mellowing comes with a condition – G23 leaders have been advised not to make public statements against the Gandhis and party leadership.
The development comes as the G23 met for the second time in the last 24 hours on Thursday evening. After the meeting, the group stressed on the fact that it did not want a split in the party, but said it had to be impressed upon the Gandhis that “things have to change”.
According to sources, the increasing membership of the G23 has made the Gandhis sit up and take note. News18 has learnt that the Gandhi family is reaching out to the rebel camp through “emissaries”. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi might even meet some G23 leaders individually in the coming days, sources added.
While the G23 is yet to deliberate on these suggestions, a senior leader of the group, on condition of anonymity, said, “The party has gone into terminal decline and we are getting a lot of support from many across the country.”
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had reached out to the group through former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is a member. Sources said, in the latest meet, it was decided that senior members of the group will reach out to “likeminded” Congress leaders across the country and attempt to build support.
Only a few members of the G23 met at senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence. Hooda and former minister Kapil Sibal were spotted arriving at Azad’s home. The G23 had said it “did not have faith” in Rahul, while staying firm in its demand for a change in leadership.
The G23 stressed that decision making could not be left to a few in the party, and that more people needed to be on board, sources said. Many senior leaders of G23 were powerful at one point, but with Rahul taking charge, they were sidelined.
Over the next few days, sources said, the Gandhis could selectively meet some of the G23 members. But, the group has “lost faith”. A leader said, “It has never happened before. Those responsible for defeat have been given charge to decide what changes are needed.”
The leader was referring to a committee appointed by Sonia to decipher the reason behind the party’s humiliating loss in five states.
In its meeting on Wednesday, held to deliberate on the party’s poll debacle, the G23 had said the only way forward for the Congress was to adopt a model of “collective and inclusive leadership and decision making”.
The G23 leaders have long demanded an organisational overhaul and change in the party’s leadership. A joint statement by G23 read, “We the following members of the Congress Party met to deliberate on the demoralising outcome of the recent results of the assembly elections and the constant exodus of both our workers and leaders.”
“We believe that the only way forward is for the Congress to adopt the model of collective and inclusive leadership and decision making at all levels,” it added.
“In order to oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP], it is necessary to strengthen the Congress Party. We demand the Congress party to initiate dialogue with other likeminded forces to create a platform to pave the way for a credible alternative for 2024 and the next steps in this regard will be announced soon,” it mentioned.
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