New Delhi: The Congress on Monday asked its leaders to refrain from making statements on behalf of the party while also releasing the list of 5 official senior spokesperson and 13 spokespersons.
The party has strictly instructed its leaders to not speak on party issues at various platforms until directed by the party's decision making panel.
In the past few months there were several instances when the Congress distanced itself from the statements issued by its partymen.
Congress senior leader Manish Tewari had earlier backed the appointment of former Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam as Kerala governor, calling it 'legal and constitutional'. This came as a major embarrassment for the party.
The party had slammed the NDA government's move to appoint Sathasivam as the Governor and wondered whether the government was pleased with his judgement in the Amit Shah case.
Meanwhile, Tewari while reacting to the party's recent instruction to its leaders, said that though he ceased to be the national spokesperson of the INC in October 2012, he intervenes in the public discourse as an ordinary Congress worker who has served the party for 34 years.
I ceased to be National Spokesperson of the INC in Oct 2012.When I intervene in the public discourse I do as an ordinary Cong worker contd
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) September 15, 2014
contd..who has served the party for 34 yrs. There are certain core convictions I believe in. When they are assaulted I do not require a noun
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) September 15, 2014
contd or a adjective behind my noun to intervene in the public discourse as as a party activist I do not hold myself out as the Spokesperson
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) September 15, 2014
Besides Tewari, former Delhi chief minister Shiela Dikshit faced flak from her own party when she said that the BJP should be given an opportunity to form government as it will be good for the people of Delhi.