Rahul Gandhi may take charge within one month: AICC

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi may take charge as Congress president within a month, the party said on Wednesday. “The desire of crores of Congress workers to see Rahul ji taking over the leadership could be fulfilled in a month’s time as the organisational elections are in full swing,” Congress’ chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said amid hectic preparations in the party to elevate its vice president.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will continue to act as a guiding force for the party, he said. Asked whether Rahul Gandhi would be prepared to face a contest for the post and whether anybody else could contest for the top post, Surjewala cited the pre-Independence Subhas Chandra Bose vs Pattabhi Sitaramayya contest for the Congress president’s post and the more recent presidential contests including the Sonia Gandhi vs Jitendra Prasada contest.

The Congress has always functioned on the principle of internal democracy and anyone is free to contest against Rahul Gandhi too for the top post, Surjewala said.