New Delhi: Barely an hour after Rita Bahuguna Joshi switched to the BJP, and pictures of her with Amit Shah went viral, the mood in the Congress was mixed.
While party spokespersons were asked to go strong on Rita and call her an "opportunist" belonging to a "family of betrayers", there was another group which was strangely silent. Not all of them were "friends" of Rita . But what was common was that they all belonged to that part of the Congress which was increasingly being sidelined and looked over by the "new boys" in the party as Rahul and his team have come to be called.
The import of his comment was not lost. The veterans are slowly being eased out or forced to opt out. It's begun to sink in that they are irrelevant now. This general secretary said in response to a question on what will happen to the Congress: "Congress is now beyond any samasya and samaadhan" ( It's now beyond seeing and solving a problem ).
Rita's exit from the party is a sign that many no longer consider it a viable option. And especially for the veterans who want to stay relevant and pursue an active career in politics.
Sources tell News18 that there are many more waiting to cross over. Indications are that Congress working committee could be called any time between November 3 to 16 in which a call will be taken on Rahul's ascent in the party. This may finally end the leadership confusion, but will it settle the position of the seniors as well?
Digvijaya Singh, who has always said Rahul should take over, said:"I have maintained that it's high time the seniors take a back seat and let the young take over. Their time has come". Digvijaya Singh is one of the few belonging to the earlier generation who have managed to build bridge from Sonia Congress to Rahul Congress.
Many others who are not so lucky are waiting to press the exit button at the first opportunity. While some are those who have nothing left to do, a few others are those who are facing heat over their financial investments and deals.
Among them is a former chief minister who, sources say, has sent out feelers to the BJP that the government should go soft on their probe on him and if need be he is ready to quit the party.
In fact, Jayanthi Natarajan had faced this allegation from the Congress when she quit and blamed Rahul Gandhi for her exit.
Congress said Jayanthi was worried that BJP government would probe financial irregularities during her tenure as environment minister so she decided to buy peace.
After Rahul took over as vice-president many of these seniors got the message that they were a misfit in his scheme of things.
However, they decided to wait it out in the hope that Rahul would look at them kindly. That has so far not happened, and they are now making alternative plans.
One such person told News18, "I still have the political fire in me. I don't see Congress coming back any time soon. And the BJP seems to be the rising star and why should I not reach out to them."
The same leader accepted that every new leader brings his own team. And this usually means the easing out of the old. But there is a way to do it this, the senior leader told me.
But the Congress has a different take.
"The party gives you identity. None of us is bigger than the party. There are good and bad times and the brave and loyal stick on," said Raj Babbar.
Well, Manish Tewari was criticised for not having fought the elections, but was soon forgiven as Punjab elections approached and he was seen as someone useful to the party.
A senior leader from Uttarakhand said: "There are different yardsticks for different people. Some are quickly forgiven, especially those who can speak English. While others have to constantly go through agni pariksha."
Every party, especially in its bad days, faces exodus. And those who leave often abuse and strongly criticise leaders while doing so. But for the Congress the dangerous sign is that, as Rahul is poised to take over, there are many who are ready to stay on if Sonia still calls the shots.
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