After the Assembly elections in five states next month, there could either be an AICC meeting or a chintan shivir (brain-storming session) likely in June or July, Congress sources indicated, against the backdrop of speculation that Rahul Gandhi’s elevation to party chief to take place in the next couple of months.
Mr Gandhi, who is addressing more meetings than his mother Sonia Gandhi in states currently facing elections and touring across the country, has been active inside and outside Parliament, but it is yet to translate into electoral victories. Party managers said, “Rahulji alone has to decide when he wants to become the Congress chief” while indicating that it is going to be a smooth transfer of power.
If Mr Gandhi’s promotion is certain, then the decision has to be taken by the Congress Working Committee which will be endorsed by the AICC meeting. This has been the practice in the party.
Mr Gandhi became Congress vice-president on January 19, 2013 at the CWC meet in Jaipur. Senior leader A.K. Antony proposed his name. Mrs Gandhi and late Sitaram Kesri, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi became Congress presidents the same way, insiders recalled.
But if Mr Gandhi delays his decision, then a “chintan shivir” has to be called, sources said, while drawing attention to how the RSS is going ahead with its “divisive” agenda by creating controversies on Bharat Mata Ki Jai and making a comparison between tricolour and saffron, national anthem Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram. Besides, anti-BJP regional parties want to be on the forefront in the battle against the RSS. “Do we have to play second fiddle to them ” Congress insiders asked.
If the party is facing an open challenge from the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, it is also facing a challenge from secular parties trying to expand at the cost of the Congress.
The Congress wants the unity of anti-BJP secular parties but does not want to have a national-level alliance with the them, fearing that this would eat its space further.
The Congress’ schedule is tight as it has to focus on the Assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, which are going to be held in less than a year, and later Goa, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Manipur. The Gujarat Assembly polls could also be held in December 2017.
