'End 5-star culture, elect people to posts': 'Reformist' Azad gives Cong a reality check

The season of discontent is back to haunt the the Congress party once again. Ever since the grand old party was humiliated in the Bihar elections and in the bye-elections, a lew of senior leaders have taken on the high command seeking accountability. First to fire the salvo was Kapil Sibal, and the latest is Ghulam Nabi Azad. Here's what he told news agencies ANI and PTI in interviews. Read on...  (Disclaimer: Photos used are representative and not aimed at any individual)

Ghulam Nabi Azad: "There is no rebellion in Congres party, we are looking for reform. Rebellion means replacing someone. There is no other candidate for the post of party president. This is not a rebellion. This is for reforms. We are the ones who believe in directing what is necessary (for the betterment of the party)."

Ghulam Nabi Azad: "There is a need to revitalize and for that, we need to think of a new formula. We have to change the system. We all are worried about losses, especially about Bihar and by-polls results. I don't blame the leadership for the loss. Our people have lost the connection on the ground. One should have a passion for their party and to do everything for that."

Ghulam Nabi Azad: "Polls are not fought by 5-star culture. The problem with leaders today is if they get a party ticket, they first book a 5-star hotel. They won't go if there's a rough road. Till the time 5-star culture is given up, one can't win elections."

Ghulam Nabi Azad: "Office bearers should understand their responsibility. Till the time, office bearers are appointed, they won't go. But if all office bearers are elected, then they will understand their responsibility. Right now, anyone gets any post in the party." 

Ghulam Nabi Azad: "Leadership needs to give a programme to party workers and hold elections for posts. One should be so much indispensable that leadership asks for you in your absence." 

Ghulam Nabi Azad: "I'm giving a clean chit to Gandhis due to Covid pandemic as they can't do much right now. There's no change in our demands. They've agreed to most of our demands. Our leadership should hold elections if they want to become a national alternative and revive the party."

Ghulam Nabi Azad: "Nobody else can become a national alternative for BJP, BJP is a national party. For a national party, your thinking should be national, national presence is also important, secular thinking is also required. Congress is at its lowest in the last 72 years. Congress does not have even the post of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha during the last two terms. But Congress won 9 seats in Ladakh hill council elections even as we were not expecting such a positive result."

Ghulam Nabi Azad: "In order to revive Congress party and to make it a national alternative, it is important o conduct election on the block to the national level, there is a need to provide programme to the party and accountability is also must." 

Ghulam Nabi Azad: "Our party's structure has collapsed. We need to rebuild our structure and then if any leader is elected in that structure, it will work. But saying that just by changing the leader, we'll win Bihar, UP, MP, etc. is wrong. That will happen once we change the system."