‘Not Easy To Meet Top Leadership’: Another Congress Leader Flags ‘Communication Gap’ Within Party

Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 16:57 IST

Rashid Alvi said that one of the Congress party's biggest problems is the absence of an effective forum where leaders can openly discuss issues.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi criticised the central leadership of the party for sidelining senior leaders. (Image: News18 India)

A day after former Congress MP Shakeel Ahmad launched scathing remarks against Rahul Gandhi, another senior party leader raised concerns over the internal functioning of the grand old party, saying that the lack of an effective platform for dialogue and limited access to the top leadership has created a serious communication gap within the organisation.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that one of the Congress party’s biggest problems is the absence of an effective forum where leaders can openly discuss issues. He further said that party workers complain that it is not easy to meet the Congress high command, resulting in a growing communication gap.

“A major problem in the Congress party is that there’s no forum where the issues can be discussed. It’s generally difficult to meet with the leaders. If people want to express their concerns, where can they go? Not everyone is a member of the CWC. There is definitely a communication gap," he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

“This is a major problem within the Congress party, and many people complain that it’s not easy to meet with the Congress high command. The communication gap must definitely be eliminated," he added.

He further said that former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi made time to meet everyone.

Alvi also highlighted that several leaders left Congress, saying that none of the Muslim leaders joined the BJP. He said their exit was not driven by the lure of power, unlike several non-Muslim leaders who left Congress to join the BJP.

“Muslim leaders haven’t left out of greed for power. They have left, and this is a matter of concern, because Muslim leadership has been ignored in the Congress party," he said as quoted by the news agency.

Alvi said that ignoring Muslim leadership within secular parties would allow leaders like AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi to continue gaining influence. He said, “if Muslim leadership is ignored, then leaders like Owaisi will continue to emerge in the country. And today, Owaisi is becoming a powerful force."

Meanwhile, Congress leader Anant Gadgil also called for urgent “introspection" following the party’s lacklustre performance in the recent Maharashtra municipal elections. He said the Congress must reconnect with its core workers and rural base to survive.

Gadgil stressed that the party needs to look inward at a time when the political discourse is dominated by the BJP’s victory and internal bickering within the ruling Mahayuti over mayoral posts.

Earlier on Saturday, former Congress MP Shakeel Ahmad launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, describing him as the “virtual President" of the party. Ahmad said that he had not sought time to meet Rahul Gandhi for the past five years and hinted at a sense of suspicion within the party leadership towards its own members. He also said that he had not seen a leader more insecure than Rahul Gandhi.

He further attacked Rahul Gandhi over the party’s consistent electoral failures, claiming unwillingness within the party to address the issues, while pointing out that there’s a lack of competence at the top leadership.

“Even if Rahul Gandhi wants, he still can’t take Congress below the 2nd position. The reason is that every other party is only in one state." Ahmad claimed that Rahul Gandhi is “uncomfortable" about collaborating with popular, veteran leaders.

(With inputs from agencies)

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