Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has openly criticized his own party’s internal weaknesses, attributing its failure in Gujarat elections over the past three decades to leaders who secretly support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a party workers' meeting in Ahmedabad on Saturday (March 8), he called for decisive action to remove such elements, asserting that Congress can only regain public trust by strengthening its core leadership.

Gandhi stated that Congress is divided into two factions—those genuinely committed to its ideology and those working covertly for the BJP.

“Until we separate these two groups and remove the B-team of the BJP, we will not be able to win Gujarat,” he said.

He stressed that Congress must reconnect with Gujaratis, acknowledging that the party has failed to meet their expectations.

He further noted that while a section of Congress leaders align with the people, another segment remains detached and, in some cases, collaborates with the BJP.

“Many among them have an arrangement with the BJP, and unless we remove them, the public will not trust us as an alternative,” he warned.

Calling for strict action, Gandhi stated that even if 20 to 40 leaders had to be expelled, the party must prioritize ideological commitment over electoral gains. He urged Congress workers to engage directly with people instead of relying on rhetoric.

“Gujarat’s traders, farmers, students, and women want a strong opposition, not a B-team of the BJP,” he added.

Gandhi acknowledged the state’s historical role in India’s independence movement, citing leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, and claimed that BJP rule had left Gujarat “directionless.”

He pledged to strengthen Congress in the state, vowing to travel extensively and interact with people at the grassroots level.