Post worst electoral debacle, the Congress is reeling through a painful spasm with voices of dissension against the central leadership of the party growing shriller. On Friday a former Congress Working Committee member Jagmit Singh Brar ruffled party’s top leadership feathers with his remarks that there was "no harm" if Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi take a two-year sabbatical from party works in the wake of Lok Sabha poll drubbing.

Brar, a former parliamentarian from Punjab further added that all general secretaries of the AICC should have resigned by now after the worst defeat of Congress and the party responsibility be handed over to a new set of leaders. Brar, who has been brooding for long, is the first Congress leader, who has asked for Gandhis’ resignation, albeit for two years.

Stressing on rejuvenating Congress, he said this would provide ample time to Gandhis to reenergize and stage a comeback. In the meantime, some leader can head the party.

Lashing on ‘coterie’ for misguiding the leadership, he said they did not allow party workers to interact with the leadership and they should immediately quit. "It's a collective responsibility. I am not saying put the blame on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi only. Everybody has to take responsibility. They are also responsible. What I am saying is that if a person has remained party President for so many years, there is no harm if he or she takes a cool off period for two years.”

"I am also saying that Congress President has contributed her best. But if she leaves the post for two years as a cool off period, she will be more acceptable later on," Brar said. Asked whether he was demanding that Sonia and Rahul should quit the party, he said, "I did not say this. What I said is that there is no harm if they take a break for two years, some kind of a cool off period."

Brar also supported dissident partyman from Haryana Chaudhary Birender Singh, who was yesterday dropped from the CWC in the wake of his meeting with the BJP President Amit Shah. "Any action against Birender Singh will be improper as Singh is not only a leader of Haryana but leader of all farmers in North India," he said.