Top AICC functionaries pitch for Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as party president

NEW DELHI: A section of influential AICC functionaries have started pitching for Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as party president at a Congress Working Committee meeting itself — instead of waiting for an AICC session, "provided he does not any more dither on shouldering the responsibility of leading the party".

These leaders are planning to place the CWC option, in addition to holding an AICC session, before party president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi when the latter returns, according to some of them.

Most of the leaders are exasperated over the lingering confusion caused by Gandhi’s nearly 40-day disappearance and the growing sense of drift in the party and decision-making process. They expect the Gandhi duo to convey what they have in mind on the timing and mode of change of guard. They feel the indecision is harming the party, especially with Rahul Gandhi’s vanishing act becoming the butt of joke among public and in the social media.

"The logistics of holding an AICC session need not become an issue at all. What is important is whether Rahulji is ready to shoulder the responsibility to lead the party. Workers want a clear answer without further delay. In any case, the Congress constitution clearly empowers CWC to elect a new party president and that decision can be ratified at a subsequent AICC session.

Since Soniaji is eager to hand over the party mantle to Rahulji, and as all senior leaders support that, any more delay in institutionalising the succession process would only harm the party and his (Rahul’s) own image," said a senior AICC functionary.

"We hope to have clarity on the whole issue by mid-April on whether Rahulji is ready for take over the leadership. If there is clarity, then a CWC meeting can settle the matter...," said a leader.

To drive home the point another senior party leader pointed out that all Congress presidents since Rajiv Gandhi were appointed by CWC and later ratified by an AICC session. The leaders expect Sonia Gandhi to have a serious discussion with her son about his plans as soon as he returns and then involve other leaders to take a call on how to end the "embarrassing indecision" at the earliest.