After having lost four successive general elections and countless assemblies, Rahul is seen as a lame duck leader by most of the party leaders, but he has the audacity to call loyal congressmen as ‘Langda Ghodas’. Unfortunate said a senior leader.
When Rahul Gandhi uses intemperate language to describe his Generals who have served the party for long years with loyalty and dedication as “langda ghodas” who are no longer fit but old and sick and not of any use to the organisation but fit only to be discarded and put out to pasture there is a huge reaction within the party.
They are not only hurt but angry and upset. A long-time middle level worker was bitter with Gandhi junior calling his language and choice of words as one of arrogance and unfit for use by a leader.
Another wanted to know whether he would use these words to describe his mother and sister as the former has retired and the latter has not been given any responsibility for the last few years.
After Rahul Gandhi began controlling the levers of power in the Congress, three categories have emerged: First, those who have been sidelined, Second, those who are in forcible retirement and third, those who have left the party because of their unhappiness at the manner in which the party is being run.
Rahul Gandhi’s Congress today is running on mismanagement, lack of political inputs, little or no experience from the young leaders he is trying to promote with most of the ‘ghodas’ failing to deliver in the political battlefield. Particularly in the Congress ruled states which are descending into chaos and anarchy.
The first name which is being discussed by party men is that of Priyanka Gandhi. She is supposed to be part of the high command, but Rahul Gandhi has reportedly sidelined her with no work as she is an AICC General Secretary in name but with no portfolio and no work. Party men close to her have been removed from their posts and others have moved away from her realizing that she can no longer give a push and protect their careers.
There is a list of names which is long.
Janardhan Dwivedi was one of the first casualties at the hands of Sonia Gandhi for making a public statement that Rajiv Gandhi once told him that Priyanka Gandhi was the more political amongst the brother and sister and would do well in politics. Despite Dwivedi being a virtual mentor of Sonia Gandhi, his downfall began from that day, and he was completely sidelined after that.
Kamal Nath, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh is also out. He has served the Gandhi’s well. Has been a custodian of their financial interests but when Rahul says ‘Langda ghoda’ in Madhya Pradesh he was referring to him possibly. 
Senior leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda former Chief Minister of Haryana has a houseful of political visitors at his residence every day, but Rahul Gandhi thinks he should retire and can no longer be useful in politics. Rahul has not chosen an not opposition leader in Haryana Assembly, Rahul don’t want Hooda to be the Opposition leader. There is no one in the state who has the persona like Hooda, but Rahul don’t care. The Congress is wobbling for the last one year in Haryana.
State after state is replete with such examples.
There is now an attempt to sideline Shashi Tharoor or push him out of the party even though the rest of the world considers him to be an asset.
Ghulam Nabi Azad with his huge organizational experience is out of the party because he spoke some home truths and when he wanted to make amends and find his way back rootless wonders like Jairam Ramesh ensured it did not happen.
Manish Tewari is not only talented but also articulate but he has been sidelined as he does not suit Rahul’s brand of sycophancy.
What is of immense significance is that those who were chosen to be the next generation of leaders and were known to be close to Rahul Gandhi, all have left the party. Prominent amongst these were talented leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, R P N Singh and even his close friend Milind Deora.
The only person who remains is Sachin Pilot and it is known within the party that he is more popular and charismatic than Rahul Gandhi.
Will Sachin Pilot be given his due or would continue to be wasted within the party? It is no secret that most of those who left were squeezed out of the party.
When Rahul talks of ‘barati ghodas’ being used as racehorses and vice versa, one smart Alec in the party commented: this applies more to Rahul Gandhi than to many others!!
But who is to tell him that he asked?
Rahul Gandhi’s main target was Ahmed Patel and he moved heaven and earth to sideline him. He wanted an ‘Ahmed mukt’ Congress, but nature took its own call and Ahmed Patel soon left the world.
Rahul Gandhi’s Congress today is running on mismanagement, lack of political inputs, little or no experience from the young leaders he is trying to promote with most of the ‘ghodas’ failing to deliver in the political battlefield. Particularly in the Congress ruled states which are descending into chaos and anarchy.
Renu Mittal
Renu Mittal is a veteran Journalist of India. She has been reporting on the Congress Party affairs since 1983.
