The poll action has now shifted to Punjab where elections are scheduled on February 20. While the Congress was warming up to an epic battle, it has suffered a major setback in the form of the exit of former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar who ended his 46-year-old association with the party on a bitter note. In his short resignation letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi, Kumar wrote, “Having given my thoughtful consideration to the matter, I have concluded that in the present circumstances, and consistent with my dignity, I can best subserve larger national cause outside the party fold."
Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab for three consecutive terms from 2002 to 2016 and has served as the Minister for Law and Justice in the UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh from 2012 to 2013. He is also believed to be having proximity to the Gandhis. The resignation implies that the senior leader is displeased over the functioning of the high command and its decision-making.
Kumar’s partying words have struck at the very heart of the Congress and come as a big jolt when the party is fighting stiff opposition from AAP and BJP. He charged that the party is not reflecting the mood of the nation, lacked inspirational leadership and is facing an existential challenge.
Kumar's resignation on the eve of Punjab elections doesn’t bode well for the Congress against the backdrop of a huge challenge from the Aam Aadmi Party, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the alliance of BJP and Captain Amarinder Singh’s new outfit Punjab Lok Congress. Moreover, Kumar’s resignation would come as a huge distraction for the Congress with the focus possibly shifting back on the dissidents.
Kumar’s calm composure and objective thinking highlight the anguish and bottled-up frustration over the party’s decision-making and isolation of seniors. As a parting shot, Kumar advised the Congress that the need of the hour is to rise above their vanities, egos, ambitions and aspirations and focus on issues that need a bipartisan approach.
Kumar joins the steady line of senior leaders that have abandoned the party in recent times, raising questions over the failure of the high command to contain an exodus. We saw Sushmita Dev, an ex-MP and president of the All India Mahila Congress quit the party and embrace the Trinamool Congress. Leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, another former Union Minister in the Congress regime, Jitin Prasada, a Gandhi loyalist, Shushbu Sandar, a star-face of the party, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, former UP Congress president, all dumped the Congress and joined BJP.
The timing of Kumar’s decision remains a mystery, but it speaks poorly of a party that is constantly at war from within. The question that remains is whether this would trigger a change in approach and the political narrative of the Congress or whether Kumar would be one among the many leaders who will be long forgotten.
