Rahul hits out at BJP, says Cong to be rejigged

Accuses BJP of throwing money for stealing the mandate in Goa and Manipur where Congress was the largest party

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused the BJP of using money power in Goa and Manipur to form governments while conceding that there was a need to make structural changes in the party.

“It is not about how soon they went, but with how much money the BJP went to steal the mandate of Goa & Manipur,” he told reporters in the Parliament House Complex. “Out of 5 states, BJP won 2, we won 3. In 2 of the states we won, democracy is being undermined by them, using money,” he said. “Our fight is against BJP’s ideology, what they did in Manipur and Goa is exactly the ideology we are fighting against.”

Gandhi also acknowledged that it was time for a revamp. “Our regional leaders have been running the elections in states. We won in Punjab, Goa and Manipur. As far as the Congress party is concerned, we need to make structural organisational changes in the party. That is a fact.” He did not spell out what those changes would be. “BJP won elections in UP, I’d like to congratulate them. Why they won has multiple reasons, one being polarisation,” he said.

Ahead of his statement on structural changes, Congress general secretary in-charge of Odisha BK Hariprasad resigned from the post, taking responsibility for the party’s drubbing in panchayat elections in the Biju Janata Dal-ruled state, where the BJP has emerged as the principal opposition party.

Earlier, in the day Gandhi discussed government formation in Punjab with chief minister-designate Captain Amarinder Singh who called on him to finalise the names of the other members of his council of ministers.

Congress sources said Gandhi is also keeping a close watch on developments in Goa and Manipur where the party lost the race to the BJP in government formation despite being the single largest party in both the states.

He is also said to have sought reasons for delay in naming the legislature party leader in Goa and staking claim to form the government.

A party functionary said it was after Gandhi’s nod only that the party decided to file a petition in the SC, challenging Goa governor Mridula Sinha’s decision to appoint BJP leader Manohar Parrikar as CM.

Manipur CLP leader and former chief minister Ibobi Singh also briefed Gandhi about developments in his state.

Post the results in UP and Uttarakhand, Congress leaders have started talking about the need for “major surgery” in the organisation.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi said the party is in need of cardiac surgery.

Lok Sabha member M Veerappa Moily too called for surgery in the organisation but he did not blame party leadership for the debacle.

Out of five states, BJP won two, we won three. In two of the states we won, democracy is being undermined, using money. RAHUL GANDHI, Congress vice-president