Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has given a big statement regarding the India alliance. While advising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said that he should consider handing over the command of the alliance to the leaders of smaller parties.
Iyer said that Rahul Gandhi should give leadership opportunity to allies instead of trying to remain in this post. Giving examples, he took the names of MK Stalin, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav.
Iyer especially described Mamata Banerjee as a strong leader and said that without her, the existence of the India alliance may weaken.
Congress reaction
After Iyer’s statement, reactions emerged within the party as well. Suman Roy Chowdhury said that Mani Shankar Aiyar has not been associated with active party activities for a long time and is giving the statement at a time when five Rajya Sabha seats are vacant in West Bengal. He questioned the intention behind Iyer’s statement.
Have given controversial statements before also
This is not the first time that Mani Shankar Aiyar has raised questions on the leadership of his own party. Even before this he had commented on the leadership and strategy of Congress leaders.