Kapil Sibal has announced his intention to run for Rajya Sabha with the support of the SP
*Paromita Das
Former HRD and law minister Kapil Sibal joined the growing list of leaders who have left the Congress on Wednesday, filing his nomination from the Samajwadi Party for the June 10 Rajya Sabha election.
Sibal, a prominent member of the G 23 who had raised concerns about the lack of reforms in the Congress, had taken a firm stance against the party’s ruling Gandhi family and had literally walked to the point of no return by publicly arguing that the Gandhis should step down from the leadership position to allow for meaningful change.
With other G 23 members compromising with the leadership, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and Anand Sharma, Sibal was largely isolated in the anti-Gandhi space. Sibal, who filed his RS nomination from Uttar Pradesh today with the support of the Samajwadi Party, stated that he would work to unite anti-BJP forces to fight the Modi government in the 2024 General Election.
Sibal had previously hosted opposition leaders twice in this capacity.
‘I resigned from the Congress party on May 16th,’ Sibal told reporters after filing his Rajya Sabha nomination.
‘It’s critical to have an independent voice in parliament.’ People will believe that if an independent voice speaks up, it is not from any political party,’ Sibal said.
He reportedly met with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav recently in Lucknow.
Sibal had been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Congress for some time.
He was one of 23 senior leaders who wrote a letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi last August, calling for “sweeping changes” and a democratic overhaul of the party to counter the BJP’s dominance in Indian politics.
Sibal was critical of the Congress’s leadership under the Gandhis after the party lost assembly elections in five states earlier this year.
I’d like to see a “sab ki Congress.” Some want a ‘ghar ki Congress,’ Sibal told Indian Express after the CWC rejected the Gandhis’ offer to resign and voted to keep Sonia Gandhi as president on March 13.
Sibal did not belong to the CWC.
Several Congress leaders had publicly criticized Sibal at the time.
Even before this, following the party’s defeat in the Bihar assembly elections, Kapil Sibal stated that the party was no longer seen as an “effective alternative” by the people of the state, and that it was in a “sorry state of affairs.”
Akhilesh Yadav praised Kapil Sibal, saying, “Today Kapil Sibal filed nomination.” He is going to Rajya Sabha with the support of the SP. Two more people may attend the House. Kapil Sibal is a senior advocate. He has effectively expressed his views in Parliament. We hope he will share his thoughts on both SP and himself.”
“Mr Sibal is a seasoned lawyer with a distinguished political career.” Mr Sibal and SP will articulate the public’s concerns at a time when prices are rising, borders are vulnerable, and people’s problems are increasing,” Yadav said.
Importantly, Sibal wields enormous power across parties as a result of his consistent defense of political leaders, the most recent being SP’s Azam Khan, whose bail he secured.
Former law minister Ashwani Kumar, former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, and former Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel have all left the Congress.
Sibal is 76 years old. Exiting Congress, he stated that the country’s burning issues include a lack of effective education for children and issues concerning women.
Sibal refused to comment on Congress, saying, “When I was in Congress, I would comment on Congress.” I don’t want to say anything now that I’ve left Congress. The fact that my over three-decade association with Congress is coming to an end should tell you something.”
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