The Congress is likely to propose the name of Rahul Gandhi as its next party chief at a conclave being planned in Rajasthan by the end of January 2021.
AICC sources said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is keen to hold the conclave in Jaipur or Udaipur and desires to stage manage Rahul’s return as Congress president.
Incidentally, during the last national conclave of the Congress in 2012 at Jaipur the Gandhi scion was appointed as national vice-president of the AICC.
Sources in the AICC said the Congress conclave will be held in January or February 2021 after the internal organisation polls being undertaken by the party’s Central Election Commitee in a phase-wise and virtual mode.
Gehlot has been in talks with Rahul’s office for the conclave with a proposal to hold the session either in Jaipur or Udaipur. The final decision on this will be taken after Rahul’s return from abroad.
Sources said the proposal for the re-appointment of Rahul as Congress president will be put forth during the conclave even though Rahul has strictly said no to his comeback.
Rahul relinquished the presidentship on moral grounds after the dismal performance of the party in Lok Sabha elections 2019.
“However, many feel that his statement that he is ready to do anything for the party at a meeting with senior leaders and Sonia Gandhi, has been assumed as his acceptance to take over as the Congress president. Hence the mood in the party is in that direction,” said a senior leader.
Sonia has already declared that she will in no case continue to head the party which she agreed to continue as interim in August for only six months, party leader said.
Rahul said he is “ready to work for the party as all desire” in the meeting on December 19 with Congress “dissenters” who had written a letter criticising the leadership and calling for an overhaul earlier this year. The comment was greeted by applause from all present, including the rebels, and since then reinforcing the talk about the 50-year-old returning as Congress president in the New Year.
Congress leaders said “no one was critical of Rahul” at the meeting and the rebels “supported him”. AICC chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala too had said “99.9 per cent” leaders in the Congress wanted Rahul to lead the party again but the final decision was his.