Rahul Gandhi’s jaunts, row bring back focus on Congress leadership

NEW DELHI: Back-to-back foreign trips by Rahul Gandhi, coupled with a controversy hurting perception, have redirected the attention in Congress and outside to the consequential issue hanging fire — the party leadership.
His absence from the scene with around two-week trip, reportedly in Europe, ended on Sunday and passed off without much notice, but for videos from a party in Kathmandu.It was clarified by Congress as a wedding function of a Nepali friend, but the nature of row kicked off a question in party circles — will Rahul take back reins of Congress?

Congress organisational polls are scheduled for September when the air is to be cleared on the new party chief. The subject has been mired in confusion given that Rahul hasn’t yet announced or even confided in confidants that he will run for the post again, after his abdication three years ago. Adding to the cluelessness around was pollster Prashant Kishor’s presentation made to Congress suggesting that Sonia Gandhi should continue as the AICC chief.

Though many assume that the party decision to hold the internal polls, after rebuffing calls over last two years, means that Rahul has given his consent, AICC managers say they are still in the dark. “We want him to become leader again. But there’s no clarity yet,” said a manager close to Rahul.
It’s believed that brainstorming session “Chintan Shivir”, to be held during May 13-15, may give some signal on leadership issue.