This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Rahul Gandhi Is ‘Developing', Doesn't Have PM Modi's Gift Of Gab: Digvijaya Singh

Rahul Gandhi Is ‘Developing', Doesn't Have PM Modi's Gift Of Gab: Digvijaya Singh
DELHI, INDIA FEBRUARY 23: Digvijay Singh, Senior leader, Congress at Budget Aajtak 2016 in ITC Maurya , New Delhi.(Photo by Ramesh Sharma/India Today Group/Getty Images)
The India Today Group via Getty Images
DELHI, INDIA FEBRUARY 23: Digvijay Singh, Senior leader, Congress at Budget Aajtak 2016 in ITC Maurya , New Delhi.(Photo by Ramesh Sharma/India Today Group/Getty Images)

Senior Congress party leader Digvijaya Singh, while comparing Rahul Gandhi with Narendra Modi, said on Friday that the Indian prime minister had a gift of gab which the Gandhi scion lacked.

Singh, referring to the performance of the Congress party in the recent state elections, also admitted that the party had failed to keep pace with the changing times and has lost the battle on the social media, news reports said.

"The difference between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi is that Mr Narendra Modi has got the gift of the gab," Singh told NDTV.

When asked whether he thinks Rahul Gandhi lacks the skill, he said, "Even Indira Gandhi was never a great speaker, even Jawaharlal Nehru. But Indira Gandhi and Nehru had the vision - when they spoke, everyone listened. As far as Rahul Gandhi is concerned, he is developing."

Yesterday when the results of assembly elections in five states came out, Singh had tweeted, "Today's results are disappointing but not unexpected. We have done enough Introspection shouldn't we go for a Major Surgery?"

Today's results disappointing but not unexpected. We have done enough Introspection shouldn't we go for a Major Surgery ?

— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) May 19, 2016

Singh admitted that the oldest political party has failed to keep pace with the changing times. "We have not kept up with the times. We have lost the battle on social media," he told NDTV

Singh called for "fresh ideas and fresh functioning style" to revive the party, a day after he pitched for a "major surgery" in the organisation in wake of assembly poll defeats in Assam and Kerala and disappointing results in other states.

At the same time, the party general secretary vehemently refused contentions that Congress is down in the dumps saying these are times when right wing has an attraction but the "cycle" will change.

"We are into a time, when the right wing has an attraction... It's a cycle," he said, adding that Congress, which is left of the Centre, has undergone these cyclic changes in past as well.

Asked to explain his pitch for "major surgery", Singh said a number of reports to improve the state of affairs in the party were submitted to the leadership and it's time to implement those suggestions.

There have been no changes in the AICC secretariat since the last Lok Sabha polls in which the party had its worst-ever performance, securing just 44 seats in the 543-member House.

Digvijay's suggestion has come at a time when there is talk of the much-delayed reshuffle in the AICC secretariat likely to be carried out soon and indications are that Rahul could be elevated as party chief.

(With PTI Inputs)

Contact HuffPost India

Also See On HuffPost:

11 Rare Jawaharlal Nehru Photos That You May Not Have Seen Before

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.