In what could be a major political development in the Opposition camp, NCP chief Sharad Pawar might replace Congress president Sonia Gandhi as the new chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
Sources in a couple of constituents of the UPA confirmed that initial talks have already taken place in this regard and the move may have the endorsement of both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
The move comes at a time when both Sonia and Rahul are struggling to contain the infighting within the grand old party after the miserable performance of the Congress in the recently held Bihar Assembly elections and the Hyderabad Municipal polls.
With Sonia’s health not permitting her to actively lead the Opposition against the BJP, and Rahul not acceptable as a leader to many Opposition stalwarts, the elevation of Pawar could be the first step towards creating a pan-India anti-BJP plank.
Pawar will have the mammoth task of reviving the moribund Opposition camp where the Congress has failed to play the lead role. In fact, after the Congress flop show in Bihar Rahul became the butt of jokes and attacks both from leaders of the Opposition and the BJP. At the same time, a section of Congress leaders have been questioning the leadership of an n “aloof’ and “unwell’ Sonia to lead the Opposition fight back against the BJP.
A senior AICC functionary said that Rahul is yet to agree to return as the Congress president and does not desire to succeed his mother as the UPA chairperson.
“In the given situation, there are chances that while Rahul Gandhi can continue to be the face of the UPA, Pawar, being the senior-most leader might become its chairperson. Sonia may continue as an adviser only,” said the functionary.
“There is a need for a chairperson who is a veteran and astute politician, and who can negotiate with other parties. Pawar has the stature to hold talks with senior leaders like Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin, and if required with leaders like Nitish Kumar,” said a UPA leader.
The NCP and the Congress are part of the coalition of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Agadi Government in Maharashtra. Pawar was the key man in stitching the alliance along with late Ahmed Patel, Congress’ leader and a long-time adviser to Sonia.
And with the loss of Ahmed Patel and resentment in Congress from senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma and many more, Congress leaders too believe the need to bring on board an astute politician like Pawar to take and make decisions.
The speculation gained further ground after Pawar led the delegation of Opposition leaders when they met the president Ram Nath Kovind regarding farmer protests on Wednesday, despite Rahul Gandhi being present.
Sonia Gandhi has been the chairperson of the UPA since 2004. In 2004, the Congress had formed a Government in coalition with Left parties under the prime ministership of Manmohan Singh. Currently, there are 12 member parties in the UPA including the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).