Rahul Gandhi’s disappearance act proves expensive, unlikely to be elevated to Congress chief post this April

Uncertainty looms large in the Congress. Since the Delhi election poll results, there are speculations over Rahul Gandhi’s disappearance from media headlines. Thundering TV anchors and newspaper editorials, having done enough investigation couldn’t trace the Gandhi scion. As per The Economic Times, senior leaders of the Congress party have expressed their uncertainty on Gandhi’s elevation to party presidentship and AICC special sessions which was speculated to be held the next month.

"He may become Congress chief later in the year," a senior Congress functionary said. These leaders, on condition of anonymity, told ET that the party is most likely to put on hold its plans to organise the AICC session in April.

The senior leaders disagreed to the fact that the Rahul left in a huff or that there was a ‘new vs old guard fight’ in the party. A leader informed the financial daily that there’s no ‘friction’ between Sonia and Rahul and that the former knew her son would be aware about this for a while.

Some senior Congress leaders like Digvijay Singh had said Sonia Gandhi was being "influenced by a few leaders" and that she was not always on the same page as her son on political matters.
Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have a final say on all political matters that they closely work together. One leader said a final decision on Gandhi's appointment will be taken by the Nehru-Gandhi family together. Since there is no leader of stature and mass base who can take on a Nehru-Gandhi, as the ET reports, no leaders in Congress would oppose Rahul Gandhi’s ascension.


"There is no revolt within the party on this. And frankly who can revolt? The leaders objecting are hardly Sharad Pawar type mass leaders with potential to split the party," the Congress leader told the ET.

He also said Rahul Gandhi's efforts to democratise Congress were being resisted by "a small section of the party that wants to continue with the feudal model," adding that this section isn't powerful enough to stop Rahul Gandhi from doing what he wants.

(Image: Reuters)