Talking of why the Congress cannot have a president from outside of the Nehru-Gandhi family, a few days ago, one senior member of the grand old party observed that the Congress was, unlike the BJP, a huge mass of people from all corners of the country, come together on their own—unlike the enrollment by the BJP or its parent organisation, the RSS—based on an affection for independent India's first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, then his daughter Indira Gandhi, her son Rajiv Gandhi, and his widow Sonia Gandhi. He was not quite sure how the party will be without one of them leading these people. But he was sure that these people will stay loyal to the party and its vice president Rahul Gandhi, and would like him to "lead the party as soon as possible".
Another leader had rubbished the claims that there was disenchantment or frustration with Rahul's style of leadership worth noticing in the party. "It is not there. If anyone says, not Rahul Gandhi, then, let them tell us, who then? Is there anyone?".
In fact, nobody in the Congress really cares when Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that to lead the Congress one has to be born in the Gandhi family, while "an ordinary chaiwala like me" can become the prime minister, thanks to the democratic nature of the BJP.
The Congress is not bereft of leadership, but it goes without saying, the party's senior members to grass roots level workers are waiting for Rahul Gandhi to come out of his mother Sonia Gandhi's shadow, and take over as president of the party. Many of them fear Rahul will not be like his mother. Sonia Gandhi's open style of decision making—consulting many and deciding by consensus—had endeared her to many. Yet, as one leader put it, "She had to learn everything, step by step, considering she was a foreigner for a start, and a reluctant politician next".
Rahul, who has been waiting in the wings for the top job in the party, may finally get it, come October. It will be in good time, as elections to the state legislatures of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are scheduled to be held in December. While there are many in the party who would like Sonia Gandhi to continue as their president, party sources indicated that she may have already begged off on health grounds.
For over two years now, voices in the party have favoured the elevation of a youthful Rahul Gandhi to take on Modi. Point by point, he may not measure up to Modi. But as one source said, "It is not about one individual here, it is about the party that Rahul is leading".
Rahul's Congress may not be vastly different from that of Sonia, though there will be a perception of that, particularly from senior and very senior party leaders. "This is a party with a history and practices," said party leader Janardhan Dwivedi. What he did not say was the fact that Rahul Gandhi may not even want much change in the party, which has "modernised constantly and remained contemporary all the time"
Though he has been treated as a "baba" by many, Rahul Gandhi has made all the right political interventions and has been at the hot spots to show the people that his party is with them. He has taken on the government in Parliament and stood with the people outside. The recent victory in Punjab, the good showing in Manipur and Goa, as well as the wins in the byelections in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh can be attributed to him if the losses elsewhere are.
The Congress Working Committee is expected to meet early May to take up the matter of organisational elections, said party sources. The high command has directed all the Pradesh Congress Committees to complete their membership drive by mid-May, in view of the elections to the crucial post of party president between mid-September and mid-October.
The Election Commission of India had directed the party to complete its organisational elections by December.
According to sources in the party, "Though Sonia Gandhi is back to lead us, the time is right for Rahulji to take charge." These sources ruled out the possibility of a surprise in the form of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra .
