Will it be November 19, grandma Indira Gandhi’s 99th birth anniversary, that would see Rahul Gandhi formally taking over as Congress president?
10 Janpath insiders say Sonia's reliance on, and confidence in, Rahul is a legacy of her role model and mother-in-law Indira Gandhi. Indira, considered an astute judge of personality, used to greatly value Rahul's grit and determination even as a child. When Indira died in October 1984, Rahul was barely 14 but she used to share with him subjects that she often avoided confiding in Rajiv or Sonia. For instance, Indira had feared for her life since June 2-3, 1984 'Operation Blue Star' and used to tell Rahul to "take charge" and not to cry in the event of her death.
However, in the present day Congress, there is an acute dearth of partymen who share Indira’s reported reliance and confidence in Rahul of 2016. Congressmen have numerous reasons to be sceptical about their future leader. For instance, thrice (2007, 2012 and 2016-17) Rahul has taken bold and reckless initiative in Uttar Pradesh without luck or a face-saving performance.
This time around, Rahul’s dependence on poll strategist Prashant Kishor for UP affairs has stunned even die-hard loyalists. Rahul and Kishore had brought in Sheila Dixit as UP’s chief ministerial face even though age and legacy had little to support an otherwise suave Dixit. In barely five months, Dixit struggled to get a foothold. She is now confronted with utter humiliation when Kishore is openly toying with the idea of a mahagathbandhan in UP. There is not a single party leader in the grand old party to ask “Sheila Dixit as CM" question in the event of the Congress entering into a grand alliance with the Samajwadi Party.
It is also intriguing to note why Rahul’s elevation did not take place in Monday’s CWC when two senior leaders Ambika Soni and Gurudas Kamat had openly demanded it. Was it the old guard at play which wanted Sonia to continue for another year so that their influence over party affairs continues for few more months? Do these leaders, mostly rootless and in their seventies, fear largescale purging whenever Rahul formally takes over? Do they lack confidence in Rahul’s ability to lead the Congress?
Many Congressmen wonder if Rahul will prove his dadi's confidence right. Both Sonia and Priyanka are convinced that he will but the rest of the Congressmen are keeping their fingers crossed.
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