Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Shakeel Ahmed addressed his resignation from the Indian National Congress in an exclusive episode of ‘Point Blank’ on Live Times, offering a forthright account of the circumstances that led to his exit and raising broader questions about the party’s internal functioning and leadership style.

The interview, conducted by Deepak Chaurasia, Director News, Live Times, was marked by direct questioning and equally unguarded responses.

According to a press release issued by Live Times, the prime-time conversation focused on Ahmed’s decision to step away from the Congress following the Bihar Assembly elections, as well as his views on organisational decision-making and the party’s recent electoral setbacks. Ahmed revealed that he had resolved to resign even before the Bihar polls but chose to formally communicate his decision only after voting concluded, writing to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge immediately thereafter.

Explaining his decision, Ahmed said he felt increasingly sidelined within the organisation. He pointed to the lack of consultation during the candidate selection process for the Bihar elections, adding that he was excluded from key discussions and decisions. This, he said, reflected a deeper disconnect between the leadership and senior party members who have long worked at the organisational level.

Despite resigning from formal party membership, Ahmed was careful to underline that his ideological commitment to the Congress remains unchanged. He described his association with the party as a matter of belief rather than position, stating that he would continue to vote for the Congress and stand by its core values, even if he no longer holds an official role within its structure.

During the interview, Ahmed also voiced concern over what he termed the marginalisation of senior leaders within the party. He said that the absence of meaningful dialogue has fostered a sense of alienation and stressed that his expectations were modest, limited to respect and genuine engagement from the leadership. In his view, these elements have weakened over time.

On the question of leadership, Ahmed remarked that decision-making within the Congress has become increasingly centralised. He alleged that most key calls are now taken by Rahul Gandhi, with the party president’s role largely focused on implementation. He further claimed that access to the top leadership has narrowed, with conversations confined to a small inner circle.

Drawing a comparison with the past, Ahmed referred to Sonia Gandhi’s tenure, noting that she encouraged regular interaction with party leaders and maintained an open consultative culture. He suggested that the erosion of this practice has led to organisational voices being overlooked, contributing to internal dissatisfaction.

Touching upon the Congress’ recent electoral performance, including its showing in Delhi, Ahmed linked repeated setbacks to internal disconnects and a weakening of grassroots engagement. He argued that without addressing these structural issues, the party would continue to struggle on the electoral front.

Throughout the episode, Deepak Chaurasia maintained Point Blank’s trademark style of sharp, fact-driven questioning, pressing Ahmed on issues of accountability and the future direction of the Congress. ‘Point Blank’ airs every Sunday at 8 pm on Live Times, which is available across major television platforms and digital streaming services.