Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is likely to resurface on Sunday after his much-talked-about “sabbatical.” This may follow a massive revamp of the grand old party and possible exit of several members of the old guard. Sources said that after his return, Rahul may take “full charge”, strategise the agenda for next month’s Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting and take a call on restructuring the All India Congress Committee (AICC). It is believed that senior leaders like Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid and Young Turks like Sachin Pilot and former IPS officer Ajoy Kumar may be given the important assignment of rebuilding the party.
There is speculation that on being anointed as the party chief at the AICC session in April, Rahul is likely to bring in his sister Priyanka Vadra as general secretary. Rahul may also bring back family loyalist Vincent George. If rumour mills are to be believed, the abrupt decision of the Gandhi scion to go on a two-week sabbatical was due to the difference of opinion between him and Sonia Gandhi over the conduct of the “old guard” and their excessive say in managing the party affairs.
Amid the debate on the role for Rahul, former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar said Sonia Gandhi has provided “exemplary leadership” to the party but admitted there could be differences in perspectives between her and Rahul on certain issues. Terming as “totally uncalled for and utterly distasteful” suggestions that the Congress president should retire, Kumar said the party needs “collective leadership at this critical juncture”.
Earlier, senior party leader Kamal Nath maintained that there cannot be two decision-making bodies within one party, and thus it was high time that Rahul was given full responsibility of the party. Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh too pointed out that Rahul was not being allowed to function independently and “some powerful people in Delhi” were trying to stall his reform measures.
The Congress party, which was hoping to regain lost ground by protesting in and outside the Parliament against the controversial land acquisition Ordinance, received a shock on the first day of the Budget Session when it learnt of Rahul’s sudden departure for two weeks for “introspection.”