NEW DELHI: Jyotiraditya Scindia 's rebellion set off rumblings in Congress about many ticking bombs within, as much a result of the leadership vacuum at the top as of a 'generational clash' that has wrecked the party over the last year.The loss of an important leader and a state government in the middle of an intense debate on CAA-NRC and a Parliament session can be demoralising for the opposition party. Though Jyotiraditya Scindia has been gradually drifting away from Congress, he has been seen as close to Rahul Gandhi, usually sitting next to him in the previous Lok Sabha. The failure to accommodate his ambition and, in fact, cut him out of the power equation in MP has cost Congress dearly.Murmurs were rife in Congress over many other young leaders brimming with aspiration but being set back by elders in their states. Scindia's resignation letter where he told Sonia Gandhi that "this path has been drawing itself out over last year" made evident that his gripe was against CM Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, who had joined hands to stall him.Though unstated, the buzz that no young leader would get his due given Rahul Gandhi's pre-eminence in the scheme of things, has only grown louder.Kuldeep Bishnoi, Haryana MLA, tweeted that Scindia's exit was a big loss and many other capable leaders were feeling alienated. It triggered alarm about upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana. While Congress can win a seat in the state, it has a buffer of just one MLA with one member appearing unable to vote because of health concerns, and the situation is likely to embolden the ruling BJP to make a bid for the second berth. A senior leader said the party would have to be careful about the choice of candidate as well as management of votes in Haryana.But apart from immediate issues, the longer term problems, masked somewhat by BJP losing out in Maharashtra, post-poll, and failing to retain Jharkhand and falling short in Delhi, have been brought to the fore by Scindia's successful revolt.Rajasthan Congress chief and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot has warned the leadership that nomination of a money bag to the Upper House, as is being speculated, will send a negative signal to the electorate as well as the party cadre. Pilot is currently well-ensconced in Congress, where he has a stake, but leaders like him may well expect their voices to be heard more respectfully.Scindia's exit, according to a party member, reflects that Rahul has given up or is indifferent to extreme steps by his colleagues that can seriously set back the party. The social media was rife with claims that the Congress chief refused an appointment to Scindia last week.The drift at the top is best reflected by the failure of the party to select new leaders for state units. DK Shivakumar's name was apparently finalised for Karnataka PCC, but has been in a limbo for over two months, in view of objections of senior leaders. The leadership of Maharashtra and Mumbai units too is up for grabs while the Punjab unit is beset with serious dissidence.As reported by TOI, a group of young leaders have been discussing among themselves about the threat that continuing vacuum at the top poses to state units, and are planning to speak out sometime in future.