1999 and 2021: The story of two coups in the Congress

In the past, the Congress had never tolerated revolt against the Gandhis. However, despite an open revolt against Rahul Gandhi this time, the party is still weighing its options.

In 1999, after the 12th Lok Sabha was dissolved and elections for the 13th Lok Sabha called, the BJP had made Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin a major election issue. In this backdrop, a Congress Working Committee meeting was convened. But as soon as the meeting began, former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma brought the elephant in the room. He asked the party to decide on the issue of a person of foreign origin occupying high offices. The second shock came when Tariq Anwar supported Sangma. Anwar was the political secretary to Sitaram Kesri, who was ousted as Congress president just a year back to bring in Sonia as Congress chief. However, it was then Congress’s Lok Sabha leader Sharad Pawar’s support to Sangma that came as a blow to the party. It was a clear leadership challenge and made on the basis of the “nation’s mood” that a person of foreign origin shouldn’t be made Prime Minister. The trio was sacked the same day and the Nationalist Congress Party born.