New Delhi, Jul 8 (UNI) With the Congress in crisis after a slew of resignations following the stepping down of Rahul Gandhi as the party president, senior party leader Dr Karan Singh on Monday put out a strong criticism against the leadership and urged the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to find a suitable person for the top post.
In a letter to party leaders, Mr Singh said he is "aghast to see the confusion and disorientation into which the party has fallen since Rahul Gandhi resigned on May 25.
Instead of honouring his bold decision, a month was wasted in pleading with him to take back his resignation, which, as a man of honour and integrity, he should not have been pressurized to do", he said.
Mr Singh also said six weeks have elapsed since Mr Gandhi's resignation and there is still no alternative structure in place.
"I strongly urge the Working Committee to meet without delay, perhaps under the chairmanship of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and take necessary decisions", he added.
He also proposed to have an interim Congress president until the next party elections, and four working presidents/ vice presidents, one each for the four zones - North, South, East and West.
"This would enable the introduction of younger people into position of authority", the senior leader added.
He warned that longer the uncertainty remains, more Congress workers and voters around the country will be demoralised.
"The negative cycle must be reversed before it is too late", Mr Singh said.
Following Mr Gandhi's resignation, Congress Mumbai chief Milind Deora and party general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh (West) Jyotiraditya Scindia too put in their papers.
Earlier, senior leader and party in-charge of Assam Harish Rawat also had step down from his post.
Even with the growing demand to choose a new president, there are speculations that party is in a dilemma about whether the new chief should be from the younger generation or from the old guard.
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, who led the party to power in the last assembly polls as state chief, and Mr Scindia's names figures in the list along with senior leaders like Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mallikarjun Kharge.
On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh came out in support for a young leader, after Mr Gandhi's 'unfortunate' resignation.
He urged the party's highest decision making body, the CWC to appoint a 'charismatic Gen Next leader, with a '"pan-India appeal and grassroots presence".
"Rahul had shown the way for the youth leadership to take the party's reins and steer it to greater heights," he said added that "any change in the party leadership must reflect India's societal reality, with 65 per cent of its population under 35".
UNI KNA SHK1948