Within the annual calendar of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), October 24 has not been a day of particular significance for a few years. However issues have modified this 12 months because the get together is within the midst of the essential Bihar meeting elections.
Surprisingly, the Congress on Friday selected to mark the twenty fifth demise anniversary of former president Sitaram Kesri, a veteran OBC chief from Bihar who wore a Gandhi cap. He succeeded PV Narasimha Rao as get together president in 1996, however was unceremoniously eliminated two years later when he was changed by Sonia Gandhi.
Whereas Rao and Kesri’s tenure appears to have been forgotten within the get together’s historical past, opposition chief Rahul Gandhi appeared on the AICC headquarters to pay his condolences to Kesri.
This motion by Congress shocked many inside the get together. “Achi baat hai. Der aaye durust aaye… hona chahiye (That is good…higher late than by no means),” stated Tariq Anwar, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and Kesri’s political secretary and shut aide.
Mr Anwar advised The Indian Specific that Mr Kesri was a freedom fighter who rose from the band chief of the Seva Dal to the place of Congress president. Kesri hails from the Bania caste, which falls below the listing of backward lessons in Bihar.
The Congress’ transfer is seen by some as an try to blunt the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering’s marketing campaign declare within the Bihar polls, however one other chief termed it “hypocrisy of the worst variety”.
The tribute to Kesri additionally drew a pointy response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched a marketing campaign in Bihar on the identical day. “At present is the demise anniversary of former Congress chief Sitaram Kesri. This nation will always remember the disrespect this Congress household had for him. At present is a reminder of the lengths Congress will go to to disenfranchise Dalits and backward lessons. The one factor that issues to him is his household. Kesri was the pleasure of our state of Bihar, they usually locked him within the lavatory. They picked him up and threw him on the pavement.” Modi stated at a rally in Samastipur that the submit of Congress president was snatched from him.
Earlier, PM Modi had invoked Kesri’s expulsion to assault the Congress over its dedication to social justice. In a speech in parliament final 12 months, the Prime Minister stated Parliament had “disregarded democracy” by locking Mr Kesri in a rest room. “What occurred to Kesri, who belonged to a really backward caste? He was locked in a rest room and thrown out on the pavement. All the get together is managed by one household. They ignored democracy,” he stated.
Former Congress chief Ghulam Nabi Azad, who later fell out with Kesri, claimed in his autobiography that he had nominated Kesri as get together president as a result of he was “the one CWC member who nonetheless wears the Gandhi cap”.
Recalling an incident at a CWC assembly held after the Lok Sabha defeat in 1996, Azad wrote that Rao had stated that though he was “among the finest prime ministers”, he was “the worst president” the Congress had ever seen. “‘You did not have the curiosity, the aptitude, or the time for organizing. Because of this we misplaced the election,’ I continued, whereas Mr. Rao listened blankly.”
After the Lok Sabha defeat in 1998, the parliamentary quota was restricted to 141 seats and Kesri was given the reins. “A gathering of the CWC was convened to introspect the losses. Many senior leaders, together with myself, believed that the primary cause for the poor efficiency was Mr. Mr. Kesri, however, failed to offer that management to us and was a poor campaigner. Mr. Kesri must relinquish that management.” That is in order that the get together can select a youthful and extra succesful president,” Azad wrote.
Executives had hoped that Mr. Kesri would resign and get replaced by Mr. Sonia, however Mr. Kesri was reluctant to step down regardless that he had beforehand indicated his intention to take action. Azad left the assembly dejected and confirmed no indicators of acceding to the get together’s calls for, he recalled in his e book.
Former president and Congress stalwart Pranab Mukherjee then drafted a well-worded decision to take away Kesri, which the CWC handed on March 14, 1998. “This assembly of the CWC takes observe of the particular circumstances arising out of the general public announcement of Mr. Sitaram Kesri’s resignation as Congress president in favor of Mr. Sonia Gandhi in a press convention held on the AICC headquarters on March 9. Contemplating the particular circumstances since this announcement, the CWC feels that organizational actions have come to a standstill and a interval of hiatus has occurred within the easy functioning of the get together. To clear the confusion and state of affairs, “Because the uncertainty is inflicting irreparable and incalculable injury to the get together, the CWC resolves to right away train the powers vested in Article 19(J) of the Congress Structure and appoint Sonia Gandhi because the President of the Congress,” the decision stated.
“Sonia Ji’s identify was proposed to switch Kesri and there was unanimity among the many get together cadres about her alternative. Within the restricted campaigning she did, she struck a chord with the individuals. As a member of the Nehru-Gandhi household, she was revered and admired inside the Congress. The problem was to persuade her to participate in lively politics,” Azad recalled.
Later, senior Congress leaders Sharad Pawar and AK Antony, who had defected from the get together, had been despatched to Sonia’s residence to woo her. Azad additionally joined them. “Sonia Ji was prepared however wished six extra months. However the leaders managed to persuade her. Sonia Ji was deep in thought. After about 5 minutes, she appeared up and stated she was able to take up the duty. We had been relieved and joyful. The CWC then instantly handed one other decision to elect her as President, in her absence after all,” Azad wrote.
Then the best drama unfolded. Social gathering old-timers recall that Ahmed Patel and Oscar Fernandes (each now deceased) rapidly changed Kesri’s nameplate with Sonia’s exterior the Congress president’s workplace. In accordance with AICC sources, Kesri was locked within the lavatory in the course of the transition.
