Rahul still reluctant

The Congress Party, with a long tradition, does itself little credit when it periodically appeals to Rahul Gandhi, its vice-president, to assume the mantle of its presidency.

The Congress Working Committee was at it again this week when it “unanimously” urged Mr Gandhi, who was in the chair in the absence of his mother who was learnt to be unwell, to be its president. The meaningful fact here is that Mr Gandhi gave his assent without hesitation. In the past, he had appeared a reluctant leader — even when he was projected as the Congress’ PM candidate before the last Lok Sabha election.

Fortunately, the CWC only made a unanimous appeal and didn’t pass a resolution to thrust Mr Gandhi forward.

That must await the party’s organisational elections, which the Congress informed the Election Commission will take a year to be completed. Then why the hurry to issue a formal appeal

It is already widely assumed that Mr Gandhi will be the next party president succeeding his mother Sonia Gandhi in the normal course. This is an ineluctable necessity.

Mr Gandhi alone among the likely contenders can insulate the Congress from severe faction-fighting; he alone is seen as being above regional and caste factions and therefore a unifying factor.

Probably the meaning of the unanimous appeal, specially since it was moved by a leader of the stature of A.K. Antony, former defence minister, is to scotch the speculation that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could succeed her mother as Congress president instead of her brother.