Meeting With Rahul Gandhi Fuels Rumours Of Kanhaiya Kumar Joining Congress, D Raja Refutes Claims

To revive the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi is said to be building a new team of young leaders who oppose BJP's ideology.  

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New Delhi: Former president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Kanhaiya Kumar is in touch with Congress. Rumours are rife that Kanhaiya is likely to join the Congress party in the coming days.

The CPI youth leader met former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday. According to the sources close to Kanhaiya, both the leaders have been meeting in this regard. Apart from Kanhaiya, several other young faces, including Gujarat Independent MLA Jignesh Mewani, are also reportedly likely to join the party. Hardik Patel is already in Congress. 

Meanwhile, CPI general secretary D Raja on Thursday met Kanhaiya Kumar amid the speculations. He condemned and refuted the rumours, as reported by Hindustan Times.

“I did ask him about the speculations. And after our conversation, I want to condemn these ongoing speculations. He is the youngest member of our national executive and as asset for the party,” Raja told HT.

“He is a member of our national executive (equivalent to CPIM politburo). He is free to meet any political leader. Would you speculate if he meets Sitaram Yechury? Earlier, he has met other political leaders too,” he was quoted as saying.

What will be Kanhaiya's role in Congress
While D Raja denies claims, the deliberation over Kanhaiya's induction in Congress is said to be in the final stages. Congress is strategising to launch a countrywide agitation against the Modi government.

Young leaders who have identified with the movement can be linked to this campaign. According to the sources, Rahul Gandhi is building a team of young leaders to corner PM Modi in 2024. To revive the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi is said to be building a new team of young leaders who oppose BJP's ideology.  

Leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, Sushmita Dev, who were key members of Rahul's old team, have left the Congress and joined other parties. Leaders like Randeep Surjewala and Milind Deora are now in the senior team. 

Sources say Kanhaiya Kumar will be seen in a national role in the Congress party. With Kanhaiya who is popular among the youth, Congress can get an important face in Bihar.

Notably, the RJD, a Congress ally in the state, has been opposing Kanhaiya. So, it won't be easy for Congress to make Kanhaiya a face in Bihar by offending the RJD. Kanhaiya, accused in the 2016 alleged anti-national sloganeering case, is also said to be of the opinion that he could hurt Congress instead of being of help. 

Sources close to Kanhaiya say it is necessary to save the Congress to defeat the BJP and Rahul Gandhi is the only leader who can challenge the BJP at the national level. Kanhaiya, who has been affiliated with the left, thinks Rahul Gandhi needs to be supported. 

What Congress can gain with Kanhaiya's support
Kanhaiya is a member of the National Executive of the Communist Party of India (CPI). Kanhaiya had challenged senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh from the Begusarai seat in Bihar in the 2019 Lok Sabha election and lost. 

Kanhaiya has been active in Bihar post his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. He held public meetings against the Citizenship Amendment Act. 

Meanwhile, as per sources, Kanhaiya knows that being a CPI leader he can remain in the news but it will be difficult for him to attain political success. So, he is looking for alternatives. 

On the other hand, Congress, which is steadily losing ground in Bihar, is looking to boost future leadership in association with young generation politicians like Tejashwi Yadav and Chirag Paswan.

Kanhaiya, who is popular across the country for his speeches, belongs to the Bhumihar community which is inclined towards the BJP. Through Kanhaiya, Congress can send a message to this community. He is also liked among the minority community, the Muslims. 

Meanwhile, contrary to speculations, neither election strategist Prashant Kishore nor any other Congress leader has any role to play in this plan. The delay in the announcement of the new Bihar Congress President and the new committee is also being linked to Kanhaiya's entry into the Congress, but according to reliable sources in the party, such conjectures are baseless.