Political Desk – A post by senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has sparked fresh debate and unease within the Congress party. A day after his remarks, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy entered the discussion, strongly highlighting the role of Sonia Gandhi’s leadership in shaping India’s prime ministers.
Revanth Reddy shared examples of how leaders from humble backgrounds rose to the country’s highest office under Sonia Gandhi. He said that P V Narasimha Rao, who began his political journey in a small village in Telangana, became Prime Minister during her leadership. He also pointed out that Dr Manmohan Singh, an economist with no mass political base, was made Prime Minister by Sonia Gandhi.
Though the Congress is currently celebrating its 140th foundation anniversary, Reddy’s remarks were seen as a clear response to Digvijaya Singh’s earlier post. Many party insiders believe this exchange has exposed internal differences within the Congress.
The controversy began when Digvijaya Singh shared an old photograph from 1996 showing a young Narendra Modi sitting on the floor near senior BJP leader L K Advani during a swearing-in ceremony in Gujarat. In his post, Singh praised the organisational strength of the BJP and the RSS, saying the image showed how a grassroots worker could rise to become Prime Minister. He called it an example of the “power of organisation.”
Singh’s post received mixed reactions from within the Congress. Shashi Tharoor supported him, saying strengthening the party organisation is important and that open discussions are healthy. Tharoor, who is part of the G23 group, has earlier spoken about the need for internal reforms in the party.
However, Congress MP Manickam Tagore strongly disagreed. He criticised the RSS, comparing it to extremist organisations and saying there was nothing the Congress should learn from it. His remarks were seen as a direct rebuttal to Digvijaya Singh.
Revanth Reddy’s post praising Sonia Gandhi was also viewed as a counter to Singh’s message. Together, these reactions have highlighted two clear views within the Congress one calling for organisational reform and change, and the other emphasising loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi leadership and the existing structure.
