Priyanka Gandhi’s Wayanad Nomination Sparks Row Over Congress’s Historical Shadows of Congress’s Relationship with Dalit Leaders

Paromita Das

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 25^th October. On Wednesday, Priyanka Gandhi’s debut as a Congress candidate in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency took an unexpected turn as a circulating video ignited a fresh political debate. The video, shared by prominent BJP figures, showed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, a senior Dalit leader, peering into the room through an ajar door as Priyanka submitted her nomination papers. This image, seemingly showing Kharge as sidelined during a significant party event, was seized upon by BJP leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, as an example of Congress’s alleged ‘anti-Dalit’ bias. The controversy has since snowballed, bringing back reminders of past Congress incidents involving Dalit leaders, most notably Sitaram Kesari.

The Incident and BJP’s Criticism

The BJP wasted no time in framing this incident as part of a historical pattern of Dalit leaders being sidelined in the Congress party. BJP leaders posted the video, claiming it symbolized an intentional exclusion of the Congress President.

आज जिस तरह से मल्लिकार्जुन खड़गे जी को प्रियंका वाड्रा के नामांकन के समय कमरे से बाहर रखा गया…

ठीक उसी तरह राहुल गांधी आरक्षण हटाने के बाद दलित समाज के लोगों को सम्मान और अवसरों से वंचित रखेंगे।

अगर गांधी परिवार खड़गे जी को ऐसे अपमानित कर सकता है तो दलित समाज के प्रति इनके मन… pic.twitter.com/75LFlDo8qJ

— BJP (@BJP4India) October 23, 2024

 

Assam CM Sarma wrote, “It’s truly disheartening to see the disrespect shown to a veteran parliamentarian and Dalit leader like Shri @kharge Ji by the so-called Holy Trinity in Wayanad today. Be it the AICC President or PCC leaders, does the Family take satisfaction in treating them as mere rubber stamps?”

It’s deeply disheartening to witness the disrespect shown towards a veteran Parliamentarian and Dalit leader like Shri @kharge Ji by the so-called Holy Trinity in Wayanad today.

Whether it’s the President of AICC or PCC, does the Family take pride in humiliating those they treat… pic.twitter.com/FCnKOloaxz

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 23, 2024

 

They cited not only the recent incident but also older examples, notably the infamous treatment of Sitaram Kesari. BJP claims that Congress habitually sidelines its Dalit leaders to preserve its elite power structure, asserting that the incident with Kharge echoes Kesari’s forced resignation and humiliation in the 1990s.

The Congress quickly responded, with AICC Secretary Pranav Jha clarifying that Kharge remained outside the room to comply with the District Magistrate’s instructions, limiting the number of people allowed in the chamber to five. Jha argued that Kharge’s exclusion was simply a procedural necessity, adding that Kharge had later joined Priyanka for the submission of her second set of papers. This defense has aimed to dismantle BJP’s framing of the incident as anti-Dalit bias but has struggled to mitigate the social media narrative fueled by the BJP’s strategic sharing of the video.

Historical Context: The Legacy of Sitaram Kesari

The controversy over Kharge’s role reopens a longstanding criticism of Congress’s history with Dalit leaders, particularly the treatment of Sitaram Kesari. Kesari, an experienced and dedicated Congress politician from Bihar, was appointed as Congress President in 1996. However, his tenure was marred by power struggles and, ultimately, a forced resignation to make way for Sonia Gandhi in 1998.

Before examining Sitaram Kesari’s story, it’s essential to revisit the political landscape of the time. The Congress party, under PV Narasimha Rao, suffered a significant defeat in the 1996 general elections. Soon after, the 13-day government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee collapsed. Despite Rao’s presence, Sonia Gandhi began to assume a more active role in Congress. The United Front government, backed by Congress, brought HD Deve Gowda as Prime Minister. Notably, it is widely believed that Rao was removed from his position as Congress President at Sonia’s direction.

In September 1996, the aging Sitaram Kesari, a long-time Congress treasurer, was appointed AICC (All India Congress Committee) President. His leadership saw the reintegration of Madhav Rao Scindia’s Madhya Pradesh Vikas Congress and Narayan Dutt Tiwari’s Tiwari Congress back into Congress. However, as Kesari’s influence grew, factions within the party conspired against him. Kesari questioned the rationale behind removing him, asserting that he had adhered to all directives from 10 Janpath. Despite his protests, he was forced to resign under humiliating circumstances, marking a dark chapter in the party’s history.

On March 5, 1998, at a Congress Working Committee meeting at 24 Akbar Road, plans were set to oust Kesari. Accounts suggest Kesari was publicly humiliated—left visibly distressed, even locking himself in the bathroom. Reports claim that Youth Congress members were called to remove him forcefully, and, as he was being escorted out, his dhoti was pulled, and he was expelled from the office. Kesari himself confirmed these details in a later interview.

This troubling episode is also documented in The Coalition Years 1996-2012 by former President Pranab Mukherjee. Mukherjee recalls that during this critical meeting, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sharad Pawar, and Jitendra Prasad proposed making Sonia Gandhi the party president, a motion Kesari rejected. Walking out in protest, Kesari accused several leaders of conspiring against him. Further insult followed posthumously, when in 2019, Kesari’s name as a former Congress President was removed from the plaque at the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road.

Kesari’s abrupt and unceremonious exit has remained a sore spot, resurfacing in the political dialogue whenever Congress’s treatment of Dalit leaders is questioned. For the BJP, invoking Kesari’s legacy serves as a powerful tool to emphasize a perceived elitist and exclusionary tendency within Congress.

Implications for Congress and the Dalit Vote

Dalit support is a crucial element for Congress, and the recent incident may jeopardize this base. Although the party has worked to project a more inclusive image, controversies like these risk undermining its efforts. By keeping the issue in public view, the BJP continues to challenge Congress’s claim to represent marginalized communities, posing a risk of denting Congress’s appeal among Dalit voters, who remain sensitive to instances of perceived disrespect toward their leaders.

Congress’s Position and Defense

Congress’s defense centers on procedural explanations, arguing that Kharge’s positioning outside the room was solely due to the DM’s restrictions. Party leaders emphasized that Kharge later joined Priyanka to support her nomination, attempting to downplay the idea that he was marginalized. Yet, the visual and symbolic impact of the video continues to circulate online, casting doubts on Congress’s explanation among the general public.

Congress leaders also countered the BJP’s portrayal of the party’s history, noting that incidents like Kesari’s removal were complex political maneuvers, not simply instances of caste discrimination. They contend that BJP’s portrayal is a politically motivated narrative aimed at fragmenting the Dalit vote bank.

Conclusion

The incident during Priyanka Gandhi’s nomination filing, paired with the resurgence of the Kesari episode, underscores Congress’s struggle to shake off the perception of being elitist or exclusionary toward Dalit leaders. While procedural justifications offer one perspective, the BJP’s ability to capture the visual moment has reinforced this narrative effectively. In a time when political optics carry immense influence, Kharge’s apparent exclusion risks feeding the BJP’s longstanding critique of Congress as dismissive toward its Dalit leaders.

The controversy is a stark reminder that political symbolism matters deeply in shaping public opinion. While Congress may be accurate in its procedural defense, it cannot ignore that moments like these demand not only political tact but a realignment of how the party publicly engages with its diverse leadership. For Congress, addressing such perceptions means investing in visible, empowering roles for leaders like Kharge—not only to counter opposition narratives but to honor its commitment to inclusivity genuinely. As long as such moments persist, the opposition will likely continue to leverage them, impacting Congress’s efforts to solidify its support among Dalit and marginalized communities.