The Congress party on Tuesday indicated that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s elevation could take place by September, and said the increase in “power centres” would not harm the party.
The Congress party on Tuesday indicated that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s elevation could take place by September, and said the increase in “power centres” would not harm the party.
“A CWC meeting or an AICC meeting could be called for the purpose,” a senior AICC official said while informally interacting with a group of reporters.
Asked whether the growing demand for Priyanka Gandhi to play a greater role in the organisation, especially in the upcomign Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, would create a third centre of power in the party and harm its chances, the leader said it would not.
“There had always been two or three centres of power in the Congress. During Indiraji’s regime, Sanjay Gandhi and later Rajiv Gandhi were the centres of power. When Soniaji became the party chief, Rahulji and
Dr Manmohan Singh were the power centres. And during the freedom struggle Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel were the power centres after Mahatra Gandhi,” he explained.
The party has been clarifying that Priyanka’s charisma would not mean that the sidelining of Rahul Gandhi, who is all set to become the party president in 2016.
The Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has recently made senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kamal Nath AICC general secretaries, and another senior leader Sheila Dikshit is ready to play any role in Uttar Pradesh at a time when “generation next” is aspiring to positions in the party.
