Congress leadership will decide on transition: Sheila Dikshit

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit has said she would welcome the younger generation in her party led by Rahul Gandhi to take up larger responsibilities, but it would be for the collective leadership of Congress to decide on leadership transition. Dikshit also underlined that there cannot be a cut-off age for senior politicians as long as they were in a position to contribute.

When asked about the possibility of an early transition in Congress leadership, with Team Rahul reportedly raring to take charge, Dikshit told ET: “The young will eventually take over the leadership. Transition in leadership is a natural thing. It happens everywhere. Not only in political parties, in families and in business. If the younger generation of party leaders led by Rahul Gandhi feels they are ready for larger responsibilities, it is welcome. But the final decision on transition will be taken collectively by the Congress leadership.”

Maintaining that Congress has been, for quite some time, grooming the younger generation led by Rahul Gandhi, she said nobody should make sweeping judgment about their ability on the basis of Congress electoral setback. “For some years now, Congress’ collective leadership has been preparing the younger generation. The Congress president, with the occurrence of the collective leadership of the party and its supporters, has given Rahul Gandhi the responsibility… It is going to be a long journey for the younger generation of leaders. You can’t make sweeping judgment on the basis of our recent electoral set back. There will be always ups and downs in politics.” Dikshit has also underlined the importance of experienced leaders and asserted no age bar can be fixed in politics.