New Delhi: Rumblings of dissent are growing against the Gandhi family, five months after their party, the Congress, met with the most resounding electoral defeat in its 129-year history.
Disgruntled Congress members pasted newspaper over portraits of the mother-son team of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi at a party office in Tamil Nadu on Monday, after party veteran GK Vasan formed his own splinter group.
The departure of Mr Vasan, a former minister, triggered more criticism of the Gandhis and their perceived lack of introspection.
On Wednesday, Karti Chidambaram, the son of the previous Finance Minister, said the Congress leadership should give state chapters of the party more freedom.
"We must rethink this high-command observer culture," he said. "We cannot wait for Delhi to show the path in every single way."
The Congress has also been trying to recover from the weekend's embarrassment around Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, who shoved away the microphone of a journalist who asked him about allegations that he profited from sweetheart land deals.
Mr. Vadra was pilloried for his responses of "Are you serious?" and "Are you nuts?" Analysts said the incident was a reminder of the stand-offish attitudes that led many people to reject the party in May.
"The Vadra incident simply smacks of the arrogance of power," said Sandeep Shastri, a professor of political science at Bangalore-based Jain University.
In the last seven days, Rahul has been holding meetings with state heads and other party members, brainstorming and inviting suggestions to strengthen the Congress in New Delhi. The party aims to increase its membership across India, said the party's Shakeel Ahmad.
"Recovery of the party is not like an electric switch, it will take time," Mr Ahmad told Reuters.
"We are waiting and watching people's disenchantment (with Modi), strengthening the organisation and analysing why we failed."
