
Kochi: Blaming Rahul Gandhi for the party's electoral reverses in the Lok Sabha election, a senior leader in Kerala Wednesday termed the Congress vice president a "joker" and demanded he be removed from his posts if he does not step down voluntarily.
T.H. Mustafa, a former minister, also demanded Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi be made the new party chief.
Addressing reporters here, Mustafa said that Gandhi should quit from his post and if he does not, he should be removed.
"Rahul behaved like a joker and that's the reason why the Congress suffered a major reversal in the Lok Sabha polls. The role of a prime minister is not child's play and the people knew it and handed out the worst defeat to the Congress party.
"He should take responsibility and quit and if not he should be removed and Priyanka Gandhi should be made the new president of the party," he said.
"His (Rahul's) mad style of working using computer and internet and in the company of a group of CWC members who only praise whatever he does has caused this defeat. It's unfortunate that even A.K.Antony belongs to this group," said Mustafa, a former minister in the K.Karunakaran cabinet (1991-95) and five-time legislator, known for openly attacking top leaders of his party.
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
In Modi's dream cabinet, 30 percent ministers have declared criminal cases
Modi, Sharif discuss terrorism; hope for new page in ties
Congress and caste parties decimated, whither Indian Muslims?
Set up high-powered committee to resolve Muslim issues: Modi urged