Pranab's daughter seeks answers from Congress; alleges rot has set in party

Sharmistha Mukherjee criticises Congress leadership, questions lack of ideology, and demands recognition for non-dynastic leaders.

Sharmistha Mukherjee, the daughter of former president Pranab Mukherjee, alleged on Sunday (December 29, 2024) that decay has set in the Congress and stressed the need for serious introspection on the "sad state of affairs" in the party.

Ms. Mukherjee lamented that several old Congress workers feel alienated from the party today due to the current state of affairs and the lack of an ideology among the top leaders.

She also raised questions as to why no Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting was convened after her father's death and a resolution passed.

Ms. Mukherjee said she felt bad when no CWC meeting was convened after her father's demise. The CWC is the highest decision-making body of the Congress.

"The Congress has to answer for this. I can only state the fact. But I would like to just add, I do not know whether it was deliberate or sheer negligence. What are the conventions in such a grand old party?" she asked.

"If there is this loss of institutional memory, if Rahul Gandhi and the people around him do not know how the Congress acted in these earlier situations, that itself is a serious and sad state of affairs within the Congress," Ms. Mukherjee told PTI Videos.

Asked about recognising the contributions of non-dynastic leaders in the Congress, she said, "Let us not forget what was done to (former prime minister) P.V. Narasimha Rao."