Discontent over ticket distribution in poll bound states has brought the rift within the Congress party to the fore. Leaders considered close to Rahul Gandhi have come out in open rebellion after being ignored by party leaders. Congress's 24 Akbar Road headquarters is abuzz with talks of team Rahul being wrecked.

Former Haryana state unit chief Ashok Tanwar took to Gandhigiri outside 10 Janpath on October 2 while party leadership was busy in Padyatra in the national capital.

Same day, Aditi Singh, a young Congress MLA from Raebareli skipped Priyanka Gandhi’s march to appear in Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow amid thunderous applause by the BJP MLAs.

As if two jolts in one day were not enough, Congress party’s former Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam on Friday claimed that leaders close to Rahul Gandhi were being sidelined by leaders running the show under new party president Sonia Gandhi.

Incensed at being ignored in ticket distribution, Sanjay Nirupam came out in support of Ashok Tanwar. Propped up by Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Tanwar saw rise from youth Congress to center stage of Haryana politics as PCC chief within a short span of time. He was shown the door just before ticket distribution process kicked off.

Aditi Singh was also considered very close to both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. Their rebellion has come as a huge embarrassment for the Congress party.

Ever since Rahul Gandhi stepped down as party president, those considered close to him are in flight mode:

> Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned as Punjab Cabinet minister. He is not even in the list of party’s star campaigners for Haryana polls.

> Pradyot Debbarman resigned as Tripura state unit chief citing differences with high command.

> Ajay Kumar, Jharkhand PCC chief also resigned citing infighting

> Ashok Tanwar was removed as Haryana state unit chief to accommodate demands of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Former Congress MP and senior leader Rashid Alvi denied the charges levelled by Nirupam. He told India Today TV, "Rahul Gandhi is our leader. Workers of Congress consider Rahul Gandhi their leader. Party works as per his directions."

"Congress runs as per its constitution. Whoever goes against it, will be punished. It is our internal matter, party high command will look into it," Rashid Alvi added.

While the party is officially denying any rift, the young leaders of Rahul's brigade are openly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After "Howdy, Modi" rally, former Mumbai chief of Congress Party Milind Deora congratulated PM Modi.

Thank you @narendramodi ji! Murlibhai put nation first & worked with all governments in India & the US to deepen ties between our great countries. In my many interactions with my Democrat & Republican friends, they, too, acknowledge India’s leadership in the 21st century https://t.co/AXbEb6ZDtK Milind Deora (@milinddeora) September 23, 2019

Party sources say chinks in team Rahul began appearing in December 2018 itself after the party won assembly polls in Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Despite Rahul pitching for young guns like Rajesh Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the party’s old guard managed to seize CM posts.

Rahul Gandhi’s resignation after lok sabha polls left his team out in the cold triggering resignations and angry outbursts.

Former Tripura Congress chief Pradyot Debbarman on Friday said that those people in the party who were loyal to former party chief Rahul Gandhi were being sidelined by older leaders.

He said that since Rahul Gandhi stepped away from the presidential post of the Congress, there are been a change in attitude towards younger leaders appointed by Rahul Gandhi.

"After Rahul Gandhi left the Congress's presidential post, there has been a change in attitude towards people like us who were appointed by him, people like us who want to fight the BJP on the ground," Pradyot Debbarman said.

Pradyot Debbarman, who resigned as the Tripura Congress chief last week, accused the party general secretaries in charge of the Northeast of complaining about other party members to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Pradyot Debbarman slammed the Congress party and its leaders for not being interested in fighting the BJP. He said, "The Congress party that we see today, we call it the grand old party, is a really old party with old leaders who are simply not interested in fighting the BJP and are very comfortable in making their own lobbies in Delhi."

When asked whether anyone close to Rahul Gandhi was being eased out, Pradyot Debbarman said, "I have a feeling that the old guard has suddenly been feeling very emboldened."