The clamour for Rahul Gandhi to be made Congress chief is growing once again as eight state units have passed resolutions demanding that the Wayanad MP should be made the party chief. +
he clamour for Rahul Gandhi to be made Congress chief is growing once again as eight state units of the principal opposition party have passed resolutions demanding that the Wayanad MP should be made the party chief.
Though Gandhi is yet to disclose his decision, the party’s rank and file is again rooting for the Wayanad MP to be made the party president.
RAHUL GANDHI & BHARAT JODO YATRA :
The response to Bharat Jodo Yatra has brought the spotlight back on Rahul Gandhi, who is walking from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Though the Gandhi scion has maintained that he is just participating in Bharat Jodo Yatra, the posters, banners, and slogans tell a different tale that he is the face of the Yatra. If one poster says “Our beloved leader,” other says “People’s prime minister”, the face remains that of Rahul Gandhi.
The party workers are rallying around Rahul Gandhi. The huge turnout of party workers and common people at Bharat Jodo Yatra is being credited to Rahul Gandhi, by Congress.
According to sources, there is a sense in the party that only Rahul Gandhi can lead Congress in these testing times.
A Congress Working Committee (CWC) member told India Today TV, “The party is going through a crucial time. The only one name on which the entire party has a unanimous view – a sort of consensus candidate- is Rahul Gandhi. If anyone else contests, there will be a “bitter” election. G-23 will field its candidate and the BJP as well as other opposition parties will get a chance to target Congress. We are hopeful that Rahul Gandhi will reconsider his decision.”
As far as the Congress presidential poll is concerned, Rahul Gandhi hasn’t spilled the beans so far. The only hint Gandhi scion dropped was in Kanyakumari wherein he said that if he does not file the nomination, then he should be asked why he was against taking the leadership and he would answer.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, while talking to the media after the resolution was passed by the state, said, “It has been done in 2 states but if this proposal comes from other states too, then Rahul ji should rethink this matter. Rahulji should take into consideration the sentiments of party workers.”
Former Union Minister P Chidambaram too, in an interview with an agency, said, “Rahul Gandhi is the acknowledged leader of the rank and file of the party. They want him to be the President of the party also.”
The nomination for the Congress presidential election starts from September 24 and if there is a single candidate then Congress will get its next president by October 2.
THE RESOLUTIONS :
It started on Saturday when Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot moved the resolution demanding Rahul Gandhi be made president. What followed was similar resolutions by Chhatisgarh, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The Pradesh Congress Committees are passing a resolution wherein it is stated that “we (state unit) authorise -incoming Congress president- to appoint PCC and AICC members.”
AICC incharge Telangana Manickam Tagore on Twitter wrote, “Glad to see our @INCTamilNadu President Annan @KS_Alagiri moving a special resolution in newly elected PCC General body meeting about “Tamilnadu congress PCC request Thiru @RahulGandhi to accept the responsibility of Congress President “. All supported it.”
According to sources, Congress’ other state units in Telangana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab are also discussing passing similar resolutions demanding Rahul Gandhi be made Congress president. The party sources added that on Tuesday, in Ranchi, a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi president will also be passed on behalf of the Jharkhand Congress.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders JP Agarwal, Avinash Pande, Deepender Hooda, and Shashi Tharoor met Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her residence on Monday. The notification for the Congress president’s election will be issued on Thursday.
