Speculation rages over Rahul taking over as Cong chief; Sonia maintains silence

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi-Speculation today raged about Rahul Gandhi taking over as Congress president soon but the party dismissed any such immediate possibility even as Sonia Gandhi remained tightlipped on the issue. Sonia, who is on a visit to her constituency Rae Bareli, was asked to comment on media reports about Congressmen wanting Rahul to take over as president. She just got into her car without replying to the media.

“We are a national party. There are certain procedures…When it comes to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi we all wholeheartedly accept (their leadership). We all want Rahul to take over, as and when (it will happen), we will make a proper statement,” party spokesperson Sushmita Dev told reporters.

Replying to a volley of questions on the speculation over Rahul’s imminent elevation and also on the possibility of Priyanka Gandhi becoming active in Uttar Pradesh where Assembly polls are scheduled next year, Dev said, “speculation is the privilege of the media”.

In Chandigarh, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh said time is right for Rahul Gandhi to take over from his mother as Congress president and favoured Priyanka’s entry into active politics. A section in the party feels that Sonia should continue as party chief, while another feels that the earlier Rahul takes over the reins the better.

Leaders like Jairam Ramesh have said earlier that Rahul will be party president in 2016. Talk is that a meeting of the Congress Working Committee will be held this month to discuss threadbare the situation caused by the party’s debacle in Assembly elections in four states. Holding of a ‘Chintan Shivir’ to brainstorm over the losses, among other things, is also being talked about.