54 THE WEEK • AUGUST 4, 2019
POLITICS
CONGRESSas the Congress struggles to control infighting and
the exodus of leaders in several states, especially
those that will see assembly elections later this
y e a r.
Some voices have emerged of late, calling upon
Priyanka to take on the mantle despite Rahul
having made it clear that the new party chief has to
be a non-Gandhi. Priyanka’s detention in Mirzapur
has only added to the buzz, reinforcing the sen-
timent that only a Gandhi can keep the Congress
together.
“No one will be more acceptable to all Con-
gress members than Priyanka Gandhi to lead the
Congress, since Rahul Gandhi has offered his
resignation. She has the capability of taking all
the Congress leaders and workers together,” said
Congress leader Anil Shastri.
A party leader close to Priyanka, however, rub-
bished the speculation. “Jaise Arjun ki nazar sirf
machli ki aankh par thi, Priyankaji ko sirf Uttar
Pradesh nazar aa raha hai (Just as Arjun focused
on the eye of the fish, Priyanka can see only Uttar
Pradesh),” said the leader. He clarified that Priyan-
ka’s mission was to prepare the Congress for the
assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh in 2022, and
her agitation over the Sonbhadra killings was just a
teaser of what she was planning to do.
“The issue is not of leadership. It is of wiping the
tears of the oppressed. We are all ready to stand
behind Priyankaji in her fight to provide justice
to the victims of Sonbhadra,” said Randeep Singh
Surjewala, head of the Congress communications
department.
The calls for Priyanka to take charge have come
amidst growing restlessness within the party over
the leadership issue. In the letter announcing his
resignation, Rahul had suggested that the party
should constitute a group of leaders to decide on
his successor. Also, he said that he would not be
associated with the process. Subsequently, a group
of senior Congress leaders including Ghulam Nabi
Azad, Ahmed Patel, Anand Sharma, P. Chidam-
baram, Motilal Vora, K.C. Venugopal, Jyotiraditya
Scindia and Surjewala have held meetings. A party
leader associated with the process said suggestions
were sought from other senior leaders, includ-
ing Congress chief ministers. A shortlist will be
prepared, which will be forwarded to the Congress
Working Committee (CWC). The final selection is
likely to be made only with the nod of the Gandhis.
A meeting of the CWC to accept Rahul’s resigna-
tion and to decide on his successor can take place
only after a consensus is evolved on the issue.Several names have done the rounds as probables
for the post, which include veteran dalit leaders
Mallikarjun Kharge and Sushilkumar Shinde, the
ever-dependable Mukul Wasnik and Rahul’s con-
temporaries Sachin Pilot and Scindia.
The choice of the new Congress chief is not prov-
ing to be easy as it has to be someone who can take
everyone along and can command the authority to
bring about a definitive revival of the party. Polit-
ical expert Ram Bahadur Verma said the task was
made difficult as Rahul remained the most popular
Congress leader. “Rahul Gandhi is making a big
mistake by stepping down as Congress president,”
he said. “He will only end up weakening the party
with this decision. He should not decide on the basis
of emotions.”
Also, it is being debated whether the reins of the
party should be given to a young leader rather than a
veteran. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has
called for a young party chief, and his comment is
being interpreted as a preference for someone who
can bring about a difference in the party instead of
just keeping the chair warm for a Gandhi.
“Rahulji has always spoken about the need to
encourage young talent at all levels in the party. It
will be good if the younger generation gets a greater
say in the decision-making process,” said Rajesh
Lilothia, who is one of the three working presidents
of the Delhi Congress. A formula being talked aboutFFEELING THE HEAT
Rahul Gandhi with Mallikarjun Kharge,
who is among the leaders said to be
considered for the top post