Congress rejig: Rahul Gandhi may stay away from Cabinet, focus on party

NEW DELHI: With the monsoon session of Parliament washed out, the focus has shifted to Cabinet and organizational reshuffle in the Congress which is likely to be topped by Rahul Gandhi assuming a key position in the party.

The reshuffle may be clinched by month-end , its importance stemming from the fact that it could be the last significant change of portfolios before the 2014 elections.

All eyes are on Rahul who is tipped to move up the organizational ladder. The position he takes would seek to clear the line of succession in the party, projecting him as the prime ministerial candidate for 2014 polls.

Congress is set to stress on the youth plank with Rahul as the mascot in future elections . The party is mulling if the move can be dove-tailed with a larger youth-oriented reshuffle, with elevation of some junior ministers in the government and giving charge of state units like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to younger party leaders.

Sources said a couple of ministers may move to the organization to aid Rahul and prepare for the poll campaign. Rahul’s ascent in the Congress ladder would settle the long-pending demand within the party.

While the option of his joining the government was also on the table, sources said he is likely to stay in the party in keeping with his objective of boosting the organizational muscle.

Some vacancies in the government are routine. While DMK is to fill its vacant slots, replacement to Virbhadra Singh who resigned from the government has also to be named. The rejig will clarify if Congress thinks any of its or ally ministers have to resign over Coalgate.

However, the critical issue is if Congress thinks it is time to chop and change to give a sense of purpose to the government , aimed at wresting the initiative in the backdrop of persistent opposition campaign over corruption and a sense of policy paralysis at the Centre.