In a fresh blow to the Congress party, Ashish Kulkarni, who served as Congress Coordination (War Room) member from 2009 has resigned from the party.
In a three-page resignation letter addressed to party vice president Rahul Gandhi, Kulkarni wrote, “There are attempts to create a perception of lack of confidence in your leadership. The periodic raising of placards to bring Priyanka Gandhi fuels the fire of pitching brother against the sister.”
Highlighting four broad points for his resignation, Kulkarni said that the party was being perceived as a far-left anti-Hindu party similar to Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M).
“We today seem more comfortable ideologically and culturally with far left in extending sympathy with Kashmiri separatists, JNU protesters and in minority appeasement,” wrote Ashish Kulkarni. He further said that Congress had vacated the centrist space in the Indian politics.
Another point highlighted by Kulkarni was the rampant factionalism in the party and the mismanagement of party affairs. “Congress has not been able to put its head together on key issues like foreign policy and economy and our narrative has failed to appeal to the new voters,” he wrote.
Finally, Kulkarni said that the party remains elitist and feudal in nature. “The party is influenced by the coterie of people who won’t allow fresh blood and fresh ideas to disturb the secure position in the citadels of power and influence,” he alleged.
Kulkarni was closely associated with former Maharashtra chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ashok Chavan. As a member of the core team, he looked into poll management, data analysis and coordination. He was also involved in the survey process in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Kulkarni told DNA he would return to his private vocation.
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