Old guard vs Rahul Gandhi camp: Ahmed Patel's win revives debate in Congress

NEW DELHI: Ahmed Patel's victory in the Rajya Sabha election has revived talk about the staying power of the 'old guard' amid growing speculation that Rahul Gandhi's elevation as party chief could herald the GenNext era

Patel's victory against BJP in the face of a crumbling Gujarat legislature party and the tactics employed to overcome the odds has made many Congress leaders point to the importance of experience in taking on the saffron rival. While the 'young vs old' schism has existed in Congress ever since Rahul was projected to take over the reins, it has become more pronounced since the 2014 defeat. Some saw the absence of a Rahul tweet congratulating Patel on his Rajya Sabha win as evidence of the generational tension.

However, Patel said Rahul had called him a day earlier. The older managers have in many cases disagreed with the choice of personnel as well as the ideas presented. Refusing to move out, they have argued that experience cannot be cast aside in favour of youth. Now, the Rajya Sabha result in Gujarat is being cited as evidence.

All eyes are on how Congress moves forward and if the party can find a middle ground to marry the aspirations of a young leadership with the expectations of the old.