The Congress on Tuesday indicated that the party president’s election schedule would be announced in a few days, while senior leaders are apprehensive about the possibility of Rahul Gandhi not contesting.
A day after he argued that the Congress was “unanimously” in favour of Rahul taking over the reins of the party, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met party president Sonia Gandhi. Gehlot, however, remained silent on the details of the meeting.
“If Rahul Gandhi does not become the party president, it will be a matter of disappointment for the Congressmen of the country. Many people will sit at home and we will suffer. Gehlot had said on Monday that he (Rahul Gandhi) should accept the post himself, understanding the sentiments of the common Congress people in the country.
However, opinion remained in the party. Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that no one outside the Gandhi family can now lead the party, senior leader Digvijay Singh said, adding that Rahul cannot be forced to take over as Congress president.
Choudhary was candid as he said that he was of the view that either Rahul should take over as the president or Sonia Gandhi should continue. “Either Rahul-Ji or Sonia-Ji. We don’t have any other option. Whatever people may say… that is reality,” Choudhary told The Indian Express.
Asked about Rahul’s reluctance to take over, Singh told NDTV: “How can you force someone.”
Meanwhile, the party’s G23 leaders indicated that it doesn’t make much difference if the system remains the same whether Sonia continues or Rahul takes over. “What the Congress desperately needs is a new, fresh message and a change in the system… the way the party functions,” he said. It doesn’t matter who is on top,” said a G23 leader.
Meanwhile, the party indicated that the date-wise schedule for the elections would be announced in a few days.
He said, “In a few days… I hope the schedule for filing nominations, scrutiny, withdrawal of nominations etc. and the date of election will be announced. Broadly speaking, we know that the process will start on August 20.” and will end on September 21. But the exact dates for the election will be announced in a few days. Let’s see what happens,” said Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications.
