The possibility of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as the party chief in place of his ailing mother Sonia Gandhi has been talked about for months. A host of factors, including the division between the young brigade and the old guard, as well as Rahul’s own reluctance to take over the onerous responsibility of reviving the party might have contributed to the delay in his anointing. On Monday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) revived the buzz on his elevation, passing a unanimous resolution to this effect. However, it preferred status quo and refused to give any timeline for Rahul’s elevation.
Sonia skipped the meeting, which requested the Election Commission to delay the party’s organisational poll by one year. Rahul’s coronation as the party president is inevitable given Sonia’s “health” condition, said sources. Rahul, who presided over the meeting, said he was ready to accept whatever responsibility was bestowed upon him by the Congress president and the CWC, in “fighting for the idea of India.”
At the CWC meeting, party veteran AK Antony set the ball rolling when he made a strong pitch for Rahul to lead the party. “Members unanimously expressed their strong sentiment that accepting the wishes of crores of Congress workers and well wishers, Rahul Gandhi must take over as the president of the Congress Party”, Antony told reporters while briefing on the deliberations.
Antony said all members including Manmohan Singh, insisted it was “high time” Rahul took over as party chief and the Congress mobilised “all forces” to take on “anti-people and dictatorial” policies of the Modi Government.
However, party leaders refused to give any timeline for Rahul’s elevation. At the briefing, both Antony and chief party spokesman Randeep Surjewala evaded questions as to when exactly Rahul would take over the reins of the party from his mother and whether it would happen on November 19, the day the All India Congress Committee has organised a grand celebration on the birth centenary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“We are very hopeful”, a senior party leader said when asked whether the elevation would happen before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
Sonia Gandhi has created a record by being at the helm of the 130-year-old organisation since early 1998 succeeding the late Sitaram Kesri who was ousted by the CWC.
“It is for the first time that the CWC is making such a recommendation. We are sure that the Congress President would give it proper care and attention”, Antony said replying to a volley of questions on the issue.
Surjewala said senior CWC members would personally meet the party chief as a “follow up” action regarding their recommendation for Rahul’s elevation. After Sonia takes a decision, the CWC would meet again to formally ratify it.
Antony said Sonia Gandhi will not nominate her successor as Congress President. “It is not her decision. She is not nominating the Congress president,” he said. The CWC also decided to seek another extension for a year from the Election Commission for completing its organisational elections. The current extension expires on December 31.
Antony, however, said delaying the organisational polls had no connection with elevating Rahul Gandhi to the party president’s post, apparently hinting at the possibility of Sonia stepping down to clear the way for her son even before the party elections have been wrapped up.