Faced with poll debacle in four states, Congress is expected to hold a chintan shivir (brainstorming session) next month either in party ruled Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand next month.
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Speculation today raged about Rahul Gandhi taking over as Congress President soon but the party dismissed any such immediate possibility even as Sonia Gandhi remained tightlipped on the issue.
All India Mahila Congress president Shobha Oza expressed her delight over the news and said that the entire party was waiting for this moment.
A section in the party feels that Sonia should continue as the party chief, while another feels that the earlier Rahul takes over the reins the better. Still party leaders feel it’s time for him to formally take charge infusing a new vibe in the party.
“It is good that change comes about because we have to be ready for 2019”.
Another aide Jairam Ramesh recently said in a press conference that Rahul should become the Congress president. Amarinder Singh is leading the Congress’ campaign ahead of crucial 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, where the opposition party is eyeing to wrest power from the SAD-BJP combine.
On his earlier remark that Sonia was exhausted now, Amarinder clarified that he meant she must be feeling exhausted after managing the party across the country. She also knows this, may be she feels she would like to hand it over to the new generation.
There also have been suggestions that Rahul Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should play a more active role in politics.
She further stated that Rahul Gandhi has been working hard for the revival of Congress from the streets to Parliament. Rahul was made party vice-president in January 2013 at the Jaipur Chintan Shivir.
As per the sources, the development may be announced at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) within ten days where he will anointed to the top post, replacing his mother Sonia Gandhi who has been heading the party since 1998. There is, of course, a demand from various quarters of workers and all of us would like Rahul Gandhi ji to take the lead.
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“It’s her decision, the party will decide, we should respect her decision”, said Capt. Singh.
