By Tushar Singh
Almost every party source confirmed that Rahul Gandhi will be declared President of the Indian National Congress right after Diwali.?However, it has been almost two weeks since Diwali and the Congress headquarter still seems to be silent on Rahul Gandhi being elevated to the topmost post.
Delay in giving over the reins
Rahul, buoyed by the prospect of becoming the President, had taken charge of Gujarat elections and was leading attack of the opposition on the incumbent BJP government in the state as well as Prime Minister Modi. Even though no one in the election process has filed his nomination to challenge Rahul Gandhi as the Presidential Candidate, one has to wonder about the reason for this delay.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) had earlier held a meeting on October 24 to discuss Rahul?s elevation. However, it sought 15-days to formally announce the decision. The CWC is the highest decision-making body of the Congress. The party?s constitution gives the committee the power to choose its president. It has 10 elected members and 10 nominated members, in addition to special invitees. On being asked why Gandhi was not being chosen as the party president by October 31, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken said, ?The deadline is till the end of this year.” The Congress had earlier set October 18 as the deadline for electing new party president, which was later shifted to October 25. Now, finally, a distant deadline of 31 December has been set even though we can expect the decision much before that date.
Inevitable hold-up
It is being speculated that Sonia Gandhi?s health is one of the reasons why this delay is taking place. On 28th October,?Rahul Gandhi tweeted that Sonia Gandhi, after being rushed to Delhi?s Ganga Ram Hospital from Shimla following a stomach bug, was in a better condition. Another reason for the delay could be the upcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The party is busy with filing nominations and deciding the candidates for the elections. Assembly elections are the topmost priority of the party. Moreover, Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming tour to south Gujarat from 1-4 November is another reason for the delay.
Moreover, there is an internal debate going on within the Congress as to when the announcement should take place. A section of the party still feels that the elevation announcement for Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi should come after the Gujarat Assembly polls so that a debacle is not attributed to him alone. Others insist the announcement will “charge up” the party cadre in the poll-bound state. Hence, it should be made without further delay.
Speculations about elevation
What is notable is that all state units and frontal organisations such as, the Youth Congress, the Mahila Congress and the Seva Dal have unanimously passed resolutions declaring Rahul Gandhi as their president. The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) and the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee had?also unanimously passed a resolution asking him to take over the reins of the party.
While the Congress prioritising Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are appreciated, a delay in the announcement of a decision which has been de facto accepted by almost all members of the party creates unnecessary speculation. Elevating Rahul before Gujarat elections will send out two strong signals. First, and obviously, that after years of speculation, Rahul Gandhi is ready to be the leader of the most important political party in Indian political history. Secondly, Rahul Gandhi is ready for a one-on-one fight with Narendra Modi and his first challenge will be probably his biggest till now – overthrowing Modi?s BJP from a state which laid the foundation for the rise of Modi.
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