Bengaluru, 30 June

BJP leaders have launched a sharp attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, calling him an “accidental AICC president” and accusing the Congress of functioning through opaque, family-centric leadership.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka questioned Kharge’s authority, stating, “If he is not the high command, then who is?” In a pointed post on X, Ashoka likened Kharge to former PM Manmohan Singh, saying both held responsibility without real power. He alleged decisions in the Congress are made “behind closed doors at 10 Janpath”, the residence of Sonia Gandhi.

“Same script, new actor. Still directed by the Gandhi family,” Ashoka claimed, referring to the perceived centralised power of the Gandhis in party matters.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya added to the chorus, likening the Congress high command to a ghost — “unseen, unheard, but always felt”. He remarked that even Kharge whispers its name, indirectly admitting he’s not in control.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala echoed the sentiment, asserting that the Congress president holds no real value, and that only the Gandhi family takes key decisions.

While Kharge had earlier said it is the Congress high command that decides on state leadership matters like the Karnataka CM post, he did not clarify who comprises this authority.

Technically, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is the party’s highest decision-making body. It includes Kharge himself, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and several senior leaders such as KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, P Chidambaram, Shashi Tharoor and Sachin Pilot. However, critics argue that real influence remains concentrated within the Gandhi family.

As of now, Congress has not issued an official rebuttal to the BJP’s comments. The remarks have added fuel to ongoing discussions about internal leadership dynamics in the party.