NEW DELHI, OCT 7: Knives are out for the old guard in the Congress as Sonia loyalists closed ranks behind her today to shield her from angry rumblings within the party over its worst ever electoral debacle.Seven-time MP from Chhindwara, Kamal Nath, fired the first shot by suggesting a Kamraj Plan-type hatchet job on the party organisation. ``We must transit to a new generation of leaders with new insights and new perceptions,'' he said.It was a hint that a host of senior leaders could be made scapegoats for the party's poor showing to deflect criticism from Sonia Gandhi. The tool is the handy defeat of five members of the Working Committee in these elections which serves to reinforce the perception that the apex body is filled with ``rootless, outdated'' leaders.The members are Vijayabhaskar Reddy, Meira Kumar, R K Dhawan, Motilal Vora and Manmohan Singh. While the others are quiet about their defeat, party sources said Singh has already indicated to Sonia his intention to quit as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha to atone for his loss.The threat of a headhunt follows Rajesh Pilot's cryptic remark about the need for inner-party democracy, a remark which he repeated today. Although he denied saying that he intended to contest for leadership of the Congress Parliamentary Party, just the hint that there could be an election for the post was enough to ring alarm bells in the Sonia camp.A CWC meeting is scheduled for Saturday to discuss the poll outcome and the loyalists were already at work to ensure that uncomfortable questions are not asked. Party sources said that Fotehdar called on Sitaram Kesri today as part of this exercise.All these efforts may not, however, stop the questions that are now being raised privately about Sonia's vote-getting ability. Power-hungry Congressmen only recognise winners and this is the second time in a row that Sonia has failed to deliver.Congress circles accept that they have little choice but to stick to the Gandhi family which gives the party its identity. At the same time, they are now openly talking of the need for a change in functioning style which would include disbanding the coterie dominating 10 Janpath.Sonia broke her silence today with a carefully worded statement calling for ``introspection, frank assessment and determined action.'' The statement said that the task to give the party ``a new shape and character'' has to be pursued with greater vigour. Her loyalists insisted that this was her way of saying that she would go ahead with the promised overhaul of the party organisation.But as with everything in the Congress, nothing may happen immediately. Organisational elections are due anyway. The process was interrupted by the general elections. It will restart and it is expected to culminate in a completely new CWC.Sonia has not yet thrown open her doors to Congressmen but she is meeting a select few. She cannot but be aware of the acute unease and anxiety gripping party circles over their future under her. She will have to take drastic steps if she intends to preserve her hold over the party which is her only passport for fulfilling her ambitions.
