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Home / News / Politics News / Sitaram Kesri's exit gains attention: Here's what happened years ago
  • Politics

    Sitaram Kesri's exit gains attention: Here's what happened years ago

    Shalini Ojha
    Written by
    Shalini Ojha
    Twitter
    Last updated on Nov 19, 2018, 07:39 pm
    Sitaram Kesri's exit gains attention: Here's what happened years ago
  • In a rally in Chhattisgarh on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the ouster of Sitaram Kesri from Congress in 1998, to prove the grand old party is loyal only to the members of Gandhi family.

    His words served as a reminder of a bitter episode in Indian politics, though many slammed him for bringing up the past.

    But what exactly happened years ago? We tell you.

  • In this article
    After Rajiv Gandhi's death, Congress won a majority Back then Sitaram Kesri was the party chief Kesri's dhoti was pulled after a meeting he called 'unconstitutional' Congress didn't treat the last outsider well Kesri's aide slams PM Modi for calling him Dalit
  • The party

    After Rajiv Gandhi's death, Congress won a majority

    After Rajiv Gandhi's death, Congress won a majority
  • In 1991, after Rajiv Gandhi's death, the Congress won a majority in the elections, but not a complete one. Notably, Sonia Gandhi had refused to campaign then.

    The PV Narasimha Rao government was voted out of power in 1996. In the election, the BJP got 161 seats, but Congress 140.

    In 1997, Sonia announced she would campaign for the elections, due in March 1998.

  • The chief

    Back then Sitaram Kesri was the party chief

    Back then Sitaram Kesri was the party chief
  • Sitaram Kesri was the chief of the party then and had welcomed the decision of Sonia to join the party. Interestingly, he called her a 'savior'.

    There were talks in the party that Kesri should resign but he wanted to hold on to the position.

    On March 14, 1998, Congress Working Committee passed a resolution asking Kesri to resign.

  • The coup

    Kesri's dhoti was pulled after a meeting he called 'unconstitutional'

    Kesri's dhoti was pulled after a meeting he called 'unconstitutional'
  • But the transfer of power was bloody. It's reported that Kesri was locked inside a room to ensure he doesn't create obstacles while Sonia entered the establishment.

    The meeting at Congress headquarters in 24, Akbar Road was termed unconstitutional by Kesri.

    As he was storming out, few 'loyalists' heckled him and pulled his dhoti. Soon the nameplate read: Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

  • PM's speech

    Congress didn't treat the last outsider well

    Congress didn't treat the last outsider well
  • It should be noted that Kesri was the last outsider to have held the position of Congress' President.

    He was succeeded by Sonia Gandhi and then Rahul Gandhi became the President, unopposed.

    Referring to the bitter incident about Kesri's ouster, PM Modi said, "He was thrown out of office and to the footpath to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief."

  • Reception

    Kesri's aide slams PM Modi for calling him Dalit

    Kesri's aide slams PM Modi for calling him Dalit
  • Notably, PM Modi called Kesri a Dalit leader and Congress shot back.

    Party leader Tariq Anwar, who was close to Kesri, said, "PM is again wrong as Kesri ji was not a Dalit, he belonged to 'Vaishya' community."

    He added Kesri willingly gave his position to Sonia Gandhi and rather questioned PM Modi's treatment of senior BJP leaders like LK Advani and MM Joshi.

  • Chhattisgarh
  • Narendra Modi
  • Sonia Gandhi
  • Rahul Gandhi
  • Indian National Congress News
  •  
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