Pointing out that a portion of the Congress leaders in Gujarat are hand in gloves with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the state on Saturday said such leaders needed to be weeded out, as the people of state are looking for an strong “political alternative” and not a “B team” of the BJP.
“Gujarat is stuck. It is unable to see the way forward and the Congress party in Gujarat is unable to show the state the way forward. I want to say this without shame or fear. If we respect the people of Gujarat, then we have to admit that we have not been able to fulfill the expectations of Gujarat, said the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha while addressing Congress party workers in Ahmedabad.
“The question is why have we not been able to bond with the people of Gujarat. The answer is that leadership and workers in Gujarat are divided into two groups. There is a clear division. There are those who are standing and fighting for the people and abiding by principles of the Congress party. Then there are those who are cut off from the people and are distant from the masses. Half of such people are hand in gloves with the BJP. Until we do not separate these two groups, the people of Gujarat will not trust us. The people of Gujarat are looking for a political alternative and not a B team (of the BJP)… If we need to take strict action and remove 30-40 people from the party, then we should do so,” Gandhi added as the Congress party workers at the gathering waved and cheered him. He said that it was his responsibility to filter and separate such leaders and workers from within the party in Gujarat.
“You are working for the BJP from inside (the Congress party). Let us see what happens when you work (for the BJP) from the outside. You will not be able to make a place (within the BJP). You will be thrown out,” said the Congress leader taking a strong stance within the party in Gujarat where there has been a steady outflow of elected Congress leaders and MLAs to the BJP in the last decade.
Rahul Gandhi told the party workers that the party has been out of power in Gujarat for over 30 years and if it plans to reconnect with the people of the state then the control of the party should be with people who have “Congress blood” running in their veins. “It is important to connect with the people. We showed it through the Bharat Jodo Yatra that it is possible. Our leaders — including me — need to go among the people and their homes in Gujarat. We need to hear their voices. What can we do for their future, their health, education and businesses? We must go to listen to them. Not deliver speeches. We can do this easily,” Gandhi said. These comments from the Congress leader come at a time when the party’s strength is Gujarat legislature is at its lowest.
Pointing out how the Congress party in Telangana had increased its vote share by 22 percent and won polls in the state, the Congress leader said that the Opposition (including AAP) in Gujarat has 40 percent of the vote share and if the Congress party increases its vote share in Gujarat by five percent, it can easily win. “The backbone of Gujarat is small businessmen and entrepreneurs. They are finished. Look at the diamond, textiles, ceramics, industry and the farmers. They are telling at their top of their voices that they need a new vision to replace the one that has been running for the last 20-25 years and has failed.” Gandhi said while egging on this party workers to work towards making the party stronger in Gujarat.