Ex-Cong loyalist Ahmed Patel's son calls Rahul, Priyanka 'lost Gandhis': 'Should let Shashi Tharoor ...'

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (Courtesy: PTI file photo)

Congress leader Faisal Patel, son of ex-Congress loyalist Ahmed Patel, called Rahul and Priyanka 'lost Gandhis' and asked them to step aside. The party, he feels, should be led by a deserving leader who is worthier than the Gandhi scions.

Blaming Rahul and Priyanka for Bihar poll debacle, he said, "lost Gandhis inept and they need to step aside". The Congress delivered one of its weakest performances in Bihar, ending up with only six seats. Terming the Bihar assembly election results 'truly surprising', Rahul Gandhi said, "We could not achieve victory in an election that was not fair from the very beginning".

According to Faisal, the grand old party should be in the hands of senior leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Digvijaya Singh or other deserving ones who are "25 times worthier than the Gandhi scions".

The Congress leader added that he would like the Gandhis to step aside because they are doing a disservice to the cause of the Opposition and by extension democracy that needs an alternative.

Faisal, in an exclusive interview with News18 in August, alleged that a 'cliqueish culture' dominated by 'out-of-control advisors' is hurting the Congress. He also claimed that the party has failed to reward loyalty or legacy.

"Dynasty and legacy should come from merit," he said.

Faisal, the son of Sonia Gandhi loyalist, is reportedly in touch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and may 'opt for BJP' as it has a wonderful work culture led by 'hard workers'. Earlier in August, the Congress leader praised the Modi government over the handling of Operation Sindoor that targeted terror infrastructures in Pakistan.

Asserting that the country is in the safe hands because of its Armed Forces and PM Modi's leadership, Faisal told news agency ANI, "The armed forces have done a great job. PM Modi showed great leadership and brought us out of a huge crisis."

Recently, senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi also said the Congress was "no match for the BJP’s hard work" in Bihar and criticised Rahul Gandhi for being 'inaccessible'.