“Cong may remain in opposition for 50 years if…”: Ghulam Nabi’s dire warning to party

New Delhi: Days after Group of 23 gave letter to Congress high command demanding ‘sweeping changes’ in the party, senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has once again renewed call for internal elections within the party.
Azad was one of the signatories to the ‘dissent letter’ submitted at CWC meet.

Pitching for internal elections in the party, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that If Congress doesn’t want to sit in Opposition for 50 years, it is advisable to hold elections for choosing party president.

In a 27-minute video shared on his social media account, Azad said that this should have happened 10-15 years ago.
‘For the last many decades, we do not have elected bodies at the party. Now we are losing elections after elections, and if we have to come back we need to strengthen our party. Holding elections is one way of doing that.’

“If my party wants to be in opposition for the next 50 years, then there is no need for elections within the party,” said Ghulam, hinting at ‘dark future’ of the party if status quo remains.

“When you contest the election at least 51 per cent is with you and you contest the election against only 2 to 3 people within the party. A person who will get 51 per cent of votes will be elected. Others will get 10 or 15 per cent votes. The person who wins and get charge of the post of part president, it means that 51 per cent people are with him. The election has the benefit that when you fight elections, at least your party is 51 per cent behind you. Right now, the person who becomes president might not even have one per cent support. If CWC members are elected then they cannot be removed. So what is the problem,” Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

“Others who stood second, third or fourth will think that we have to strengthen the party while working hard and will win next time. But, the president who is elected now does not have even the support of 1 per cent of party workers,” he said in video posted on Facebook page.

Azad, who is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, however clarified that the letter was only meant to empower the party. And, any Congress worker who has little interest in the party welfare will welcome his letter.