Veteran Congress leader's advice for Rahul Gandhi: You can't sit in Delhi and do things

Former Union Minister  MV Rajasekharan said Rahul Gandhi needs to work on the grass root level if he wants the Congress to win back the trust of people.

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Veteran Congress leader's advice for Rahul Gandhi: You can't sit in Delhi and do things
Rahul has to work on the grass root level to win back trust of people, says MV Rajasekharan. (File Photo: PTI)

In Short

  • Veteran Congress leader MV Rajasekharan has a word of advice for Rahul Gandhi.
  • Rahul can't sit in Delhi and do things, says Rajasekharan.
  • The former Union Minister also hailed PM Modi for BJP's win in Uttar Pradesh.

Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister MV Rajasekharan has an advice for his party's vice president Rahul Gandhi, who is facing criticism from all quarters following Congress's deplorable show in the just concluded Assembly elections in five states.

"He needs good feedback. You have to project local leaders, one cannot sit in Delhi and do the things," MV Rajasekharan said while advising Rahul Gandhi to work on the grass root level if he wants the Congress to win back people's trust.

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The Congress lost four out of the five Assembly elections. The only solace for the grand old party was its win in Punjab where it returned to power after 10 years. The party suffered a humiliating loss in Uttar Pradesh despite entering into a pre-poll alliance with the Samajwadi Party. Congress managed to win just seven out of 105 seats it contested in Uttar Pradesh. Even smaller parties like Apna Dal grabbed more seats (nine) than the national party.

PRAISE FOR PM NARENDRA MODI

Showering praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajasekharan said the PM has managed to win the support of the younger generation.

In a letter to Modi, Rajasekharan eulogised him for establishing a "direct rapport" with the electorate and for getting support from the poor and women cutting across religion and caste.

Rajasekharan, son-in-law of former Karnataka Chief Minister S Nijalingappa, also drew parallels between the 'Garibi Hatao'(abolish poverty) slogan of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and Modi's assertion of making the middle class equal partners in the development process.

In 1971, Gandhi had given the call for removing poverty when the opposition parties called for 'Indira Hatao' (remove Indira).

In his letter, Rajashekaran said, "I would like to take this opportunity to convey my heartiest congratulations on the tremendous success of the BJP in the recent Assembly elections in the five northern states, specially on getting two-thirds majority in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand."

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