Discontent grows within Congress, senior leaders feel sidelined by Rahul's coterie post polls: sources

New Delhi: Ever since its humiliating mauling in the 16th Lok Sabha elections followed by the loss in Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress has been in complete disarray with several leaders raising the banner of revolt against the top leadership.

Many top leaders are upset over being sidelined after the Lok Sabha elections which saw the party coming up with its worst ever performance when it could win just 44 seats. Seniors leaders like P Chidambaram, Manish Tewari and Jayanti Natarajan are feeling sidelined, say sources. Kamal Nath is also reportedly upset that he wasn't made leader of the party in Lok Sabha.

P Chidambaram's son Karti had spoken out against the Congress High Command on Wednesday and some Congress leaders met party President Sonia Gandhi in the backdrop of his outburst.

The junior Chidambaram voiced his opinion after the exit of senior party leader GK Vasan from the Tamil Nadu Congress unit. He indicated that the party was becoming weak because all decisions were being dictated from the High Command in Delhi.

"We need to revisit observer style of functioning. Tamil Nadu congress requires more autonomy. Solution cannot come from Delhi. I would like state unit to be like Kerala. It is an independent strong unit. They run unit in autonomous manner," he said.

Soon after senior leader Digvijaya Singh lashed out at Karti suggesting that he should leave the party if he was not happy with it.

Without naming him, he said, "We are an inclusive party. Those who disagree with this idea can leave the party."

Adding to the Congress' troubles is former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit's refusal to take any part in the upcoming Delhi elections. Many feel the party continues to be ruled by a coterie of Gandhi loyalists like Mohan Gopal, AK Antony and Jairam Ramesh.