Discordant notes from Cong on ICJ, Karnataka verdicts

NEW DELHI: Even as the wait for a new Congress president drags on, the party’s troubles seem to be increasing with leaders striking contrarian notes on crucial issues, including the coalition crisis in Karnataka.

On Wednesday, while MP and senior advocate in Supreme Court Abhishek Singhvi had welcomed the apex court order calling it a victory for Congress, the party’s communications in-charge

Randeep Surjewala

attacked BJP and the SC ruling, calling it a “terrible judicial precedent”.

Pointing to the ruling, which upheld the Speaker’s right to decide on the pending resignations and disqualifications of the rebel MLAs but said the rebels cannot be forced to attend the proceedings of the House, Surjewala questioned the validity of a floor test when the order had “effectively nullified” Congress’ authority to “issue and enforce a whip”. The divergence with Singhvi, who represented the argument in favour of the Speaker in court, was obvious and may well be the fallout of prevailing confusion over leadership following Rahul Gandhi’s resignation.


The

rudderless

feeling in party circles seems to be leading to a lack of coordination on developments. Signs of a deeper confusion prevailing within Congress were also evident in the party’s mixed response to the ICJ’s ruling on Kulbushan Jadhav on Wednesday. While Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Ahmed Patel were among the leaders who welcomed the ICJ ruling asking Pakistan to grant consular access to Jadhav, Surjewala differed. He dwelt, instead, on India’s demand for Jadhav’s repatriation being denied.