The Indian National Congress, once the undisputed leader of Indian politics, is now a shadow of its former self. Plagued by internal strife, electoral setbacks, and a lack of clear ideological direction, the party is struggling to remain relevant in a political landscape dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Against this backdrop, Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks during a meeting with Gujarat Congress workers have sparked a fresh debate about the possibility of a much-needed revamp within the party.

While his statements have been bold and uncharacteristically direct, the question remains: Is Rahul Gandhi serious about reforming the Congress, or is this just another instance of rhetorical posturing?

Rahul Gandhi’s address in Ahmedabad, where he called for the removal of 10 to 40 individuals to set an example, and criticised certain leaders as the “B-team" of the BJP, is not the first time he has made such sweeping statements. Over the years, he has repeatedly spoken about the need for change within the Congress, yet little has been done to address the party’s deep-rooted issues.

His resignation as the Congress president in 2019 after the Lok Sabha defeat was seen as a moment of accountability, but since then, he has continued to wield significant influence without formally taking responsibility for the party’s failures.

This pattern of making grand statements without following through raises doubts about his sincerity. If Rahul Gandhi is serious about reform, why has he not assumed formal leadership of the party? Why does he continue to operate as a de facto leader while leaving the official role to Mallikarjun Kharge, who appears more as a figurehead than a decision-maker? This ambiguity in leadership only adds to the confusion and undermines the party’s credibility.

One of the biggest challenges facing the Congress is factionalism, which has plagued........

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