Will Priyanka Gandhi be Congress chief? Sonia reportedly in support
Speculations have been rife since long that Rahul Gandhi will head the Congress party sooner or later. But reports are emerging about another possible candidate. Reportedly, at the August 8 meeting of the Working Committee (CWC), party president Sonia Gandhi wondered aloud about whether daughter Priyanka should be given charge. Incidentally, Rahul, who was down with viral fever, wasn't present in the meeting.
Priyanka's rise: From election campaigner to party chief?
Priyanka has till now largely restrained herself to the Gandhi bastions of Rae Bareli and Amethi, staying away from active politics and only surfacing during campaigns. The family too has ignored questions about a possible elevation for the Gandhi daughter. But now things are apparently changing. "It wasn't a casual question. (Sonia) clearly had something on her mind," a CWC member said.
Will Priyanka in charge benefit the Congress?
If sources are to be believed, the CWC has expressed support for Priyanka's promotion. Many feel a young face is the need of the hour, who could connect with fresh voters as well as strategize with senior leaders. After losing several elections and leaders after PM Narendra Modi's 2014 win, the Congress desperately needs a new lease of life.
So what will happen to Rahul?
There is dissatisfaction that Rahul Gandhi's working style is in contrast to that of senior leaders, which has led to the absence of a unified game plan against the fast-expanding BJP. However, he is likely to continue taking lead; most agree looking beyond the Nehru-Gandhi family isn't a sensible move. A final decision on party leadership is expected in a month or so.
