`How can Prasada speak of Pilot and Kesri in the same breath?’

Ever since the Congress's unspectacular performance in the 1991 Lok Sabha elections, the charismatic Rajesh Pilot had insistently spoken o...

Ever since the Congress’s unspectacular performance in the 1991 Lok Sabha elections, the charismatic Rajesh Pilot had insistently spoken of `inner party democracy’, the alienation of the grassroots worker and the need for `collective leadership’. Recently, in an attempt to package his challenge to Sonia Gandhi as a face-off between the coterie and the ordinary Congress worker, presidential wannabe Jitendra Prasada invoked Pilot’s memory. Pilot’s widow and first time MP from his constituency Dausa, Rama Pilot, has protested. She tells VANDITA MISHRA why she won’t let Jitendra Prasada appropriate her late husband’s name for his `cause’.

Is Jitendra Prasada’s decision to throw his hat in the ring for the post of Congress president symbolic of the inner party democracy your husband spoke of?

WHY give this contest the label of inner-party democracy? Why not call it a symbol of a healthy democratic system? In any democratic system, everybody is free to fight elections.

Story continues below this ad

You have objected to Prasada taking Rajesh Pilot’s name in his campaign alongwith that of Kesri.
I don’t want to say anything about Sitaram Kesri because he is no longer alive. But I felt it was completely inappropriate to couple my husband’s name with his. How can Prasada speak of both in the same breath? Also, Prasada has claimed that what he is doing now is a tribute to the memory of Pilot and Kesri. Is this the way to pay tribute?

Are you objecting to the comparison with Kesri or to Prasada taking your husband’s name in his campaign against Sonia Gandhi?
Anybody can take anybody’s name, but it must not be misused. Contesting an election is not wrong. But why hide behind someone else? To say that Rajesh Pilot raised an issue and therefore I am raising it…It is true that Pilot spoke of these issues, but fortunately or unfortunately, I am also in the same line. So I should take up his slogan. The heirs have the first right to a person’s legacy. Only when they are unable to carry it forward will others take it up. If Nehru’s or Indira Gandhi’s political legacy had to be furthered, others would step in only if there was no one in the family to do so.

But didn’t Pilot make common cause with Prasada? He addressed parallel rallies organised by Prasada in Uttar Pradesh, which are now seen as the precursor to the challenge to Sonia Gandhi.
At that time, did Jitendra Prasada openly spell out what he was holding these rallies for? All Pilot knew was that a Congress rally was being organised.

But they were dubbed “parallel” rallies even then.
If Pilot spoke of inner party democracy at these rallies, it was not a new refrain. He had spoken about it before. Even when he went into villages, he urged people to work to restore the Congress to what it was in Mahatma Gandhi’s time. He was the first to admit when things went wrong, but it was always within the party.

Story continues below this ad

How is Prasada’s invocation of inner party democracy different from Pilot’s?
See, it is a question of intention. Prasada’s sloganeering reeks of a personal motive. Why is Jitendra Prasada talking of inner party democracy only now? Why didn’t he ever raise the issue earlier?

Your intervention is being seen as a statement of support to Sonia Gandhi.
I have only spoken the truth. It is for others to see in whose favour it works. The fact is, Prasada was with Kesri when he contested for party president. At that time, my husband was made to lose to Kesri. Before that, Prasada was with Narasimha Rao. Then he fell out with Kesri too. When he himself was in the inner circle, he was in favour of a coterie. Now that he is outside it, he is against it.

Is there a coterie around Sonia Gandhi?
I am new here. I don’t know yet. What does coterie mean anyway? There is no harm in taking advice. You can call them courtiers, secretaries or give them some other name. It is the same in every party.

It is being said there has been widespread rigging in the preparation of electoral rolls for the organisational polls.

Story continues below this ad

In this party, elections have been taking place in the same manner since the last 20 years. The problem is overarching ambition. For each post of PCC delegate, there are upto 10 claimants. Returning officers have to use their discretion. It is impossible to please everybody.

But isn’t it true that only one faction has managed to get its people in?
Any Congress president will constitute a PCC he or she thinks is suitable. The DROs and PROs will do what they think is right. Moreover, there is a process. If you have complaints, go to the responsible authority. It depends on the credentials of the person who is crying foul. If it is someone who doesn’t play these games himself, it is understandable. But it is not fair if you keep others’ supporters out, and complain when others do the same to you.

What needs to be done to revive the Congress? What should be its stance on coalitions, for instance?
I can only say what I can do. What is required is to shed sloth and become active again. As for specific issues, it is not my position yet that anybody should ask for my advice.

Have the party’s fortunes plunged because of Sonia Gandhi’s leadership?
She was inexperienced and it is such an unwieldy party. It takes time to understand all the equations. I am facing a similar situation. It will take me at least six months to come to grips with it. Till then I wish to steer clear of all controversy.