New Delhi, Jun 11 (IANS): In wake of the departure of UP leader and former Union Minister Jitin Prasada, the chorus for reforms within the Congress has grown louder with a section of leaders calling for a "major surgery" in the party.

These party leaders contend that only those with surname should not be promoted in the party but those with a mass base and for this, the party should go for elections to the Congress Working Committee, the party's highest decision-making authority, and to the Congress President's post.

Kapil Sibal, one of the vocal members of the G-23 who last year wrote a letter for sweeping reforms in the party, and had criticised Prasada -- a fellow signatory -- for moving to the BJP as "prasada politics", reiterated that the issue which had been highlighted in the letter remains and the party should look into it, if it does not want to face the consequences.

"Jitin Prasada joins the BJP but the question is will he get 'prasada' from the BJP or is he just a 'catch' for UP elections? In such deals if 'ideology' doesn't matter, changeover is easy," he said.

Another leader who is batting for "major surgery" within the party is Veerappa Moily who said that party should build regional leadership and only promote committed people who are faithful to the ideology of the Congress. He said that Prasada's ideology was in doubt and the party should think over promoting such people.

The Congress, which is reeling after its defeat in 2014 and 2019 general elections, had already seeing an exodus of leaders from Assam followed by Goa, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, leading to it losing its grip in these states. Before Jitin Prasada, it was Jyotiraditya Scindia, who left the party along with his supporters, leading to the collapse of the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

However, Congress insiders say that "these young people want power without any effort and do not have commitment towards the party".

The party exists because of lakhs of Congress workers, not the leaders who switch side for personal gains, said a party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity. But the larger question remains that the leadership is unable to hold the people because of its electoral defeats, the leader added.

The larger question raised by many is about ideology which is the core to Congress, and those who differ with the ideology should not be promoted to the top echelons of the organisation or the government, say leaders.

Meanwhile, the Congress is facing tough time to resolve issues in Punjab and Rajasthan, where it is ruling, as younger leaders demand their due even as it has to prepare for a string of key polls next year including to Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand.