New Delhi: A meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) should be convened “without delay” to elect an interim president, suggested Karan Singh, one of Congress’ veteran leaders. He said the party has already “wasted” a month in “pleading and pressurising” party president Rahul Gandhi to withdraw his resignation instead of “honouring” his “bold decision”.

The former cabinet minister suggested appointing four working presidents for north, south, east and west zones to introduce “younger people into positions of authority”. Singh has strongly urged the CWC to convene under the chairmanship of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and take the decisions.

His remarks came in the wake of a leadership crisis in the Congress party after Gandhi made his decision to step down as its president, despite attempts by various senior leaders to convince him otherwise.

The former governor also said instead of “honouring” Gandhi’s “bold decision”, the party “wasted” a month in “pleading” and “pressuring” him to take back his resignation.

“As someone who had joined the Congress in 1967, over half a century ago, I am aghast to see the confusion and disorientation into which the party has fallen since Gandhi resigned on 25 May,” Singh said in a statement.

“Six weeks have elapsed and there is still no alternative structure in place,” he added.

Push for younger leaders

The appointment of working presidents in the party “will let younger people step into positions of authority”, he said.

But Singh isn’t the only one making a case for inducting younger leaders in positions of power. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh Saturday batted for a “charismatic gen-next leader who can enthuse the people with her or his pan-India appeal and grassroots presence.”

After unfortunate decision of @RahulGandhi to quit, hope to see another dynamic youth leader as @INCIndia president to galvanise party. Urge CWC to take note of young India’s need for a young leader, aligned to aspirations of its large youth population & with grassroots connect.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) July 6, 2019

Singh feared that the longer this “uncertainty” continues in the party, the more workers and voters would be “demoralised.”

“The negative cycle must be reversed before its too late,” he said.

Singh’s statement comes less than a week after Gandhi made public his letter of resignation and urged the CWC, Congress’ top decision making body, to convene and elect a new chief.

Ever since, there has been a spate of resignations by senior Congress leaders, including UP (West) in-charge Jyotiraditya Scindia and Mumbai party chief Milind Deora. The leaders followed Gandhi’s call for “accountability” and took responsibility for the party’s 2019 poll defeat.

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