AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

These leaders with political capital have remained loyal to the party, but it doesn’t seem eager to address their concerns

Shashi Tharoor Into his third consecutive term as MP, he has articulated a strong, alternative narrative to the BJP brand of politics, but the Congress has yet to give him any significant leadership position Milind Deora

Was made Mumbai Congress president just before the Lok Sabha election, resigned after the humiliating defeat. Has been kept out of party affairs since, unlikely to be rehabilitated soon Manish Tewari Was Sonia Gandhi’s first political appointment after she took over the party reins in 1998 (as Youth Congress president) but is still not part of any core decision-making team of the party Navjot Singh Sidhu Banked on his proximity to Rahul and Priyanka and took on Punjab CM Amarinder Singh. Latter sidelined him and no support forthcoming from Gandhi scions Jyotiraditya Scindia Lost out to Kamal Nath in the race to be Madhya Pradesh CM; Nath and Digvijaya Singh have sidelined his supporters, high command too did not back him; LS poll loss added to his misery Sanjay Nirupam Was sacked as Mumbai Congress president just before the Lok Sabha polls; has publicly expressed unhappiness as party high command has ignored his suggestions for assembly poll; says he may quit party Sachin Pilot

Led the Rajasthan Congress to victory in 2018 but Ashok Gehlot trumped him to the CM’s chair; now the fight is on to retain the PCC president’s post. Sonia, Priyanka are not keen on him Aditi Singh Once considered close to Rahul and Priyanka, the Rae Bareli MLA has turned rebel defying party diktats; has been served showcause notice Randeep Singh Surjewala MLA from Haryana and Congress communication team head enjoyed the confidence of Rahul Gandhi and emerged influential for a while in the party; was careful not to offend the old guard but Bhupinder Singh Hooda sees him as a threat to his dominance in Haryana politics