Leaders like Rahul rare: Adhir

KOLKATA: In the wake of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi facing criticism for "walking away" after the party's defeat in the general election,leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday stood by him and said politicians like Gandhi, who stepped down taking moral responsibility for the drubbing, are rare in Indian politics.

Several Congress leaders, both at the state and at the central levels, had criticised Rahul Gandhi for "walking away" from the party president's post following its massive defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll.

The disgruntled leaders had claimed that Gandhi's resignation has left both the suppporters and the leaders of the grand old party in the lurch.

"Yes I have heard about the statements by certain leaders. I would just say, yes it would have been good if Rahul Gandhi stayed back as party president. But at the same time, we must also appreciate the example of moral accountability, he has set for everybody.

"Politicians like Rahul Gandhi, who stepped down taking moral responsibility for the defeat, are rare in Indian politics. All of us should take lesson from him," Chowdhury, a fivetime Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal,told PTI over phone.

Saying "all of us would love to have Rahul ji back," Chowdhury said, it was Gandhi's decision and it must be respected.

"Can you cite an example in any other party, where the leader has stepped down taking responsibility of the party's defeat? The answer is no. Through his action, Rahul ji has sent out a message that before lecturing subordinates, the leader should set an example," he said.

Several Congress leaders have either quit or have become inactive after the party's dismal performance in the 2019 Parliamentary poll.

According to Congress sources, the resentment within the party ahead of the crucial assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra has put a "question mark" over the performance of the grand old party in the upcoming elections.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha poll, Congress won just 52 of the 543 seats, less than a tenth of the total strength of the Lower House of Parliament. The BJP on its own bagged 303 seats, up from 282 in the 2014 election.

Taking moral responsibility for the party's poor performance in the Lok Sabha election, Rahul Gandhi had resigned as the Congress president, despite attempts by the party's rank and file, as well as some allies, to convince him to reconsider his decision.

Later, Sonia Gandhi was made interim president of the party.