Once a formidable force in Maharashtra, the Congress is facing a silent but steady erosion of its traditional support base as the new generation of several loyalist families – once the party's backbone – are either aligning with rivals or retreating from active politics.

This shift is weakening the Congress's organisational depth and compounding its troubles ahead of the crucial local body polls this year, according to party sources. Last year, the party faced its worst rout in assembly polls, winning only 16 seats in the 288-member House, despite contesting 101 seats in alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).

In recent months, leaders from families with long-standing Congress ties have made moves that reflect the party's diminishing appeal among its once-committed base. Senior Congressman Anant Gadgil, who belongs to perhaps one of the last loyalist families remaining committed to the party, expressed concern over the spree of desertions by the second generation of families associated with the organisation for decades.