Earlier the opposition leaders, especially L K Advani had launched a vitriolic campaign against Dr Singh and derided him, now his own party men, especially the aides of Rahul Gandhi have launched a smear campaign against him and have been accusing him for the defeat of the party in the Lok Sabha elections. They have got their scapegoat. They know Dr Singh a dedicated Congressman would not open his mouth to counter their tirades and they on their part to project their boss Rahul can go to any extent. Probably his aides nurse the view that the political demise of Dr Singh would help Rahul retrieve his lost ground.

Even while Advani had launched a vociferous insinuation campaign against Dr Singh, it was Rahul Gandhi who through his infantile actions damaged the prestige of Dr Singh most. No one can forget his tearing of the ordnance paper that’s too when Dr Singh was abroad and unable to defend his action and also Rahul pointedly directing him at the AICC session to amend the LPG formula. Through his actions Rahul sent a loud message to the entire country that Dr Singh is simply a puppet.

A general impression was created amongst the people that he was an accidental prime minister, who does not have any say and control on the political happenings in the Congress. Now at this stage blaming him for all the wrongs, what the Rahul supporters did was not proper and ethical. The manner in which the young brigade ……..owing allegiance to Rahul Gandhi ill-treated Dr Singh in the presence of Sonia Gandhi is really deplorable.

These young leaders do not have that nature of political credibility to ensure the victory of the party at the elections. They are not the mass leaders. They even cannot think to win the elections for themselves. . These people might bask in the glory of the Congress leadership, but they have no personal credibility.

It is in this backdrop one should recall the observation of the BJP leader Dr Subramaniam Swamy and NCP chief Sharad Pawar about Dr Singh. While Swamy described him as the renowned economist, Pawar on Sunday said the country again needs an economist like Dr. Manmohan Singh to revive the economy. In fact by accusing Dr Singh, the aides of Rahul were showing themselves in poor light.

“When Dr. Singh was the Union Finance Minister, he gave new directions to the Indian economy. I was also part of that Cabinet. I credit Dr. Singh and late P.V. Narsimha Rao for the turnaround of the economy from the crisis,” Mr. Pawar said, adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also take the help of experts as the country needs another Dr. Singh.

Their insinuation against Dr Singh obviously raises the question what the Congress leadership was doing? Why did the Congress not mend ways at least after Himanta Biswa Sarma's desertion? What Congress did to prevent Jyotiraditya Scindia from quitting the party?

A closer look at the functioning of Rahul Gandhi provides an insight that he cannot provide a collective leadership. He has been conscious of his own image and his recent attacks on Narendra Modi have been the part of this strategy. True enough he has been following in the footsteps of Modi; to build his own image. If he has really been concerned of the future of the Congress he should not have abruptly resigned from the president. It was simply his game of one-upmanship that made him quit and putting the blame on others.

His departure signals the deepening leadership crisis in the Congress which continues to grapple with factionalism and growing power struggles between the old and young leaders. No doubt the old leaders have well entrenched vested interest. But as the president instead of pursuing the escapist path, he should have tackled the situation head on. By resorting to this tactics he simply pushed his failure under the carpet and deflected the attention of the rank and file from his own failure to ensure revival of the party at the elections.

One thing is absolutely clear that notwithstanding the adrift, weak-decision making processes and dominance of the old leaders, these young leaders are more scared of their uncertain future. The leadership by sheer its ostrich like behaviour to confront the situation has been causing anxieties among the young leaders who have long political careers ahead of them.

It is said that Rahul Gandhi has been annoyed with the happenings that took place during the last couple of days. This is not enough. He ought to confront his brigade and should find out what actually they desire. It is a common refrain that they are denied opportunities to show their skill or be the part of the decision making process. It is for Rahul Gandhi to use their niche. It is for him to decide how to use their skill. Simply passing the buck or accusing seniors would not do.

Rahul must take one or two lesson from the BJP; it does not disown or discredits its legacy. At no stage the BJP leaders criticized Atal Behari Vajpayee government. BJP was out of power for 10 years 2004-14. Not once did they ever blame Vajpayee or his Government for their predicaments.

His aides like Rajiv Satav must not discredit their own legacy and by doing so, they would only be aiding the BJP's designs to undermine the party in the public eye. His accusation was distorted and motivated with malicious narrative. Satav holding Dr Singh responsible for 2019 Lok Sabha poll defeat underlines his political immaturity. He was not the public face of the party. Had there been any other person in place of Dr Singh he should have preferred to quit. It is sad that ever since the Congress lost the power, he has been insinuated and maligned by his own partymen. (IPA Service)