The Congress is seriously considering giving full responsibility of party affairs to its second in command Rahul Gandhi.
AICC sources said there is a possibility of Rahul’s “larger” role to be discussed in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on January 13. The speculation has gained momentum after party general secretary Digvijay Singh on Thursday stated he was of “firm” opinion that Rahul should become party president. Rahul’s activities in the party have grown manifold since he became the vice-president of Congress in January 2013. The organisational polls are also already underway and will be completed in the election of a new president sometime in September 2015. Before that AICC meeting is scheduled in March this year.
“I have been saying for a long time and even today I maintain my words. I am firm that Rahul Gandhi has handled the responsibility of vice-president and my request to Congress leadership and Sonia Gandhi is that he should be given the responsibility of the AICC,” Singh said at the backdrop of deliberations of organisational polls in the party. Singh had repeatedly said advocating for Rahul’s anointment for the top post. Rahul is 44 and Sonia (68) is the longest serving party chief since March 1998 and of late has not been keeping good health.
The CWC will also discuss the current political situation, including the controversial land Ordinance, creation of NITI Aayog and though a fall in international crude prices benefits not being passed on to consumers. AICC has already asked State units to launch agitations against the Ordinance on the matter before February 15 when the Budget Session of Parliament is expected to begin.
The party has constituted a three-member group to fine-tune its strategy to take on the government on land ordinance issue with former Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, former Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and former Food Minister KV Thomas members of the group. In addition to this the party will also form a Parliament Strategy group to take up the issue more effectively in Parliament when the Budget session begins. The party will also consult Congress Chief Ministers and other political parties on the issue as the party sees an opportunity to paint the Government as “anti-farmer”.