Congress general secretary in-charge of organisation and Rahul Gandhi's 'Man Friday' KC Venugopal is under fire from party workers for his inefficient crisis management.

Venugopal failed to read the discontent brewing in the Himachal Pradesh Congress that eventually resulted in the defeat of party candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the February 27 Rajya Sabha elections. It was a huge loss of face for the party that had an absolute majority in the assembly.

Venugopal's only job is to be around Rahul Gandhi, and be in the same frame, and is like a shadow to him, much to the dislike of party leaders across the country.

On many occasions, Venugopal has veteod decisions taken by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. In fact, Rahul Gandhi continues to run the party through his proxy, prompting many to ask why doesn't he take the bull by its horns and steer the Congress.

The so-called Congress high command had to rush Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to Shimla to do their bit in resolving the crisis. Venugopal has been missing in action.

His closeness to Rahul Gandhi is damaging the party. Congress leaders often cite an example of late Ahmed Patel who would always stay away from any limelight despite being the master strategist and trouble shooter.

On the other hand, Venugopal likes to flaunt his closeness to Rahul Gandhi.

It was Venugopal who suggested to Rahul Gandhi to contest from the safe seat of Wayanad apart from Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

That was a political suicide by Rahul Gandhi given that it was perceived as leaving the Hindi heartland and shifting to South India. Since then, the Congress has come to be known as a South Indian party with its footprints slowly getting diminished in North India that holds the key to power in the country.

Since yesterday, there have been calls on social media seeking his removal from the post with some even listing his failures.

Congress leaders from Kerala narrate how he would often change sides and loyalties.

Rahul Gandhi should do away with him and save the Congress.