Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi was subjected to a volley of questions at the AICC briefing over the resignations of sulking ministers Narayan Rane in Maharashtra and Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam.
"This issue is of personal ambition and need for a post... it cannot be accommodated. Congress party is a national party. A stand has been taken openly or otherwise. Nothing more needs to be said," he said signalling that nobody can extract a decision from the high command under pressure or by giving deadlines.
Singhvi scoffed at suggestions that the developments were a jolt to the Congress and that they reflected a challenge to the high command. He also frowned upon the tendency to blame Rahul Gandhi for the problems.
A senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said that it is a fact that assembly elections being held within six months of Lok Sabha polls is bound to have an impact of the general elections, in which the BJP came out with flying colours.
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Rane today met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, gave his resignation and later slammed him for "slackness" in decision-making.
Similarly, Sarma met Assam Governor and submitted his resignation. He claimed he met the Governor along with 38 MLAs and expressed non confidence in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
Senior party leader Kamal Nath, speaking separately, downplayed Sarma's resignation. "While the issue is that some people would not be happy with the chief minister, the majority of them are with the chief minister," Nath said.