Despite the rains and the gloomy grey weather there was a ray of hope on the Congress horizon Sunday morning as ‘news’ spread that Priyanka may be made party General Secretary soon. It was said that Rahul, her elder brother, had requested her to occupy this post and help her in running the party after he becomes President.
However, instead of getting dispelled dark clouds gathered again as Priyanka’s office later the reports and said that there was no move to make her the general secretary of the party.
The developments today comes amidst controversy and speculations over Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Roman Holiday’ during the Budget Session and demands that he be elevated to a higher post in the party. His absence has drawn critical remarks from the party’s rivals and surprisingly from loyals within the party too.
A Congress worker on Wednesday had released pictures of Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand, but the Congress had refused to comment.
Meanwhile, senior party leader AK Antony said that Rahul Gandhi, who has taken a break from Parliament, will return “stronger and more energetic”.
However, there may be a deeper and more unsettling reason for Rahul’s present farewell to active politics than the explanation that he has gone away to mull over the factors which led to the Congress’ recent electoral reverses.
As per reports, Rahul Gandhi has held extensive consultations with party leaders and workers over the past few months to evolve a road map for the party’s revival and his plans are running awry to those of his mother’s. There is speculation of the two not seeing eye to eye on many issues.
A view that is gathering strength is that Rahul should get a free hand to implement his ideas and he should take responsibility as party president. It may be recalled that many senior leaders had opined on air that there “cannot be two points of power in one party”. But on the question of whether Sonia should retire the predominant opinion is a big resounding NO.
