Patna, India – Faisal Patel, son of the late Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel, has sharply criticized Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, attributing the Congress party's continued electoral failures, including the recent Bihar loss, to their leadership. In a series of interviews, Patel has expressed his disappointment with the direction the party has taken and suggested that the Gandhi siblings should step aside to allow others to lead.

"Rahul and Priyanka are lost," Patel stated in an interview. "They need to recognize that their leadership is not working and allow someone else to take charge." He argued that the Congress party is currently "directionless" and that the Gandhis are not receiving the right advice from their advisors. Patel believes that the senior leaders who advise Rahul Gandhi are "completely on the wrong foot".

Patel's criticism comes in the wake of the Congress party's poor performance in the Bihar elections, where the party failed to secure a significant number of seats. This latest setback has intensified concerns about the party's leadership and its ability to regain its political footing.

Faisal Patel, son of the late Ahmed Patel, who was a key advisor to Sonia Gandhi, has been increasingly vocal about his dissatisfaction with the Congress party's leadership in recent years. In February 2025, he announced that he would "stop working" for the Congress party, expressing "great pain and anguish". He stated that he had tried to follow in his father's footsteps but was "denied every step of the way".

Patel's departure from the party and his recent criticism of the Gandhis highlight the internal challenges and leadership crisis within the Congress. Once considered a loyalist, Patel's disillusionment reflects a growing sentiment among some party members that the Gandhis' leadership has become ineffective.

Despite his criticism, Faisal Patel has also praised Rahul Gandhi as a "fearless leader fighting for the people". However, he maintains that Rahul Gandhi's advisors are not providing him with the proper guidance to run the party effectively. He also acknowledged that the Congress party has many bright and intelligent leaders.

The Congress party has yet to officially respond to Faisal Patel's remarks. However, his comments are likely to fuel further debate and discussion about the party's future direction and leadership. The calls for the Gandhis to step aside are not new, but coming from the son of a long-time Gandhi family confidant, they carry added weight. It remains to be seen whether the Congress party will heed these calls and consider a change in leadership.