The Indian National Congress is once again facing internal divisions, this time over the handling of two significant crises: the US-Israel-Iran War and the LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) supply situation in India. The party's leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi, has been criticized by several senior Congress leaders for what they perceive as a compromised foreign policy stance and an overblown narrative on the LPG shortage.
Anand Sharma, Kamal Nath, Shashi Tharoor, and Manish Tewari have all broken ranks with Rahul Gandhi, offering a more balanced and supportive view of the Modi government's approach to these issues. Sharma, in particular, has been vocal in his praise of the government's diplomatic handling of the West Asia crisis, describing it as "mature and skillful." He emphasizes the need for national unity and a mature response guided by national interest, highlighting the historical and civilizational relations with Persia, as well as the energy crisis.
Kamal Nath has accused certain quarters of creating panic over cooking gas for political gains, stating that there is no dearth of cooking gas in Madhya Pradesh. This stance is in stark contrast to the Congress high command's criticism of the government over the LPG shortage.
These reactions from senior leaders underscore a growing divide within the Congress, with some members questioning Rahul Gandhi's leadership and the party's ability to provide a coherent and effective response to critical national issues. The BJP has seized on these divisions, with leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Pradeep Bhandari attacking the Congress for its perceived opportunism and fear-mongering.
This internal strife within the Congress is not new, as the party has faced similar situations in the past, such as the Operation Sindoor incident in 2025. Then, as now, the party's leaders had to navigate complex geopolitical issues while maintaining unity and coherence. The challenge for the Congress is to reconcile these differing views and present a unified front, especially when the country's interests are at stake.
In my opinion, the Congress needs to find a way to integrate these diverse perspectives into a cohesive strategy. While Rahul Gandhi may have his concerns, the party's survival and effectiveness depend on a collective effort to address the nation's challenges. The leadership must find a balance between holding the government accountable and maintaining internal unity, which is a delicate but crucial task.
