Congress clamour over new party chief gets louder

Several Congress leaders have come out in open to express their views for electing Rahul Gandhi as the new party president. Many leaders feel that the party needs a leader who can infuse new life and set new direction following two consecutive general elections defeat and its decimation to below 10 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha.

New Delhi: Amid the growing clamour over the Congress leadership, former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar here on Sunday said former party chief Rahul Gandhi should take over as the new president.

Several Congress leaders have come out in open to express their views as the six-month period for electing a new chief is already over and as per the party constitution, the Congress needs to elect a new president at the earliest.

Sonia Gandhi was named the interim party chief on August 10 by the Congress Working Committee, after Rahul Gandhi quit the top post following debacle in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and by January 10 the party should have elected the new leader.

According to sources, the AICC (All-India Congress Committee) session is likely after the conclusion of the budget session of Parliament on April 3.

Sources said Rahul Gandhi is set to be re-appointed the party chief next month.

Meanwhile, the cacophony over the issue has only intensified with one section backing continuance of Sonia Gandhi at the helm and the other section voicing the demand for return of Rahul Gandhi.

Some are also talking about elevation of Priyanka Gandhi or looking beyond the 'first Congress family' to elect a leader.

Many feel that the party needs a leader who can infuse new life and set new direction following two consecutive general elections defeat and its decimation to below 10 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha.

"Overwhelming consensus in the Congress is that we need Sonia Gandhi as the president for the foreseeable future," Manish Tewari said and added, we should look for another president only after sorting out ideological issues, which might take more than a year.

Anil Shastri, son of Lal Bahadur Shastri, suggested that Priyanka Gandhi should take over as the party chief as a non-Gandhi couldn't lead the party.

"There's no question of a non-Gandhi taking over as the Congress president at this stage. The party will cease to exist. Priyanka Gandhi should be elected to lead the party," said Shastri amid the talk that her brother Rahul could again become the party chief.

Many others have also said a non-Gandhi would not be acceptable to the party.

While many leaders are showing restlessness over the delay in naming of a new chief, Anand Sharma said, "I don't think there is a leadership crisis. Sonia Gandhi is the party's interim chief and the decisions are being taken in party."

"I believe a revived @INCIndia is indispensable to provide a national alternative to the divisive policies of the BJP. This is why the current perception of drift must be ended," tweeted Shashi Tharoor.

People like Tharoor and Sandeep Dikshit, son of late Sheila Dikshit, have been raising their voices for a regular appointment, particularly after the Delhi Assembly debacle where the party failed to win a single seat, second time in row.

Away from all this, a Senior Congress leader said, "Our's is a democratic party and everyone has his own view. We can't stop anybody from expressing their views."

(IANS report)