Rahul Gandhi remains adamant that a non-Gandhi should lead the party, sources say. (Archive)
New Delhi:
Rahul Gandhi has ruled out his return as president of Congress, sources close to him said as the party, struggling with an existential crisis and a perceived leadership vacuum, prepares to elect a new chief in the New Year.
Many leaders and workers have reportedly sought the return of Rahul Gandhi to the top position, but sources close to him indicate that he has not changed his position since he resigned last year, being responsible for the defeat of Congress in the second general election. consecutive.
The 50-year-old, who took over as president of Congress from his mother Sonia Gandhi in 2017, is still adamant that someone other than Gandhi should head the party, sources say.
After his resignation last July, shortly after the election results, party leaders tried to persuade him to change his mind for three months. A dramatic impasse, with Rahul Gandhi refusing all moves to bring him back or even refusing to meet with senior leaders, ended with a temporary solution.
Sonia Gandhi, who led the party for 19 years before handing over the position to her son, was forced to return as interim president of Congress.
But top leaders complained this year about a change in leadership, with 23 of them signing a letter to Sonia Gandhi calling for radical changes and “active and present leadership”, especially after the party lost power in Madhya Pradesh after the Jyotiraditya Scindia revolt and barely clung to Rajasthan.
As the election of Bihar brought another humiliating defeat for Congress, one of the letter writers, Kapil Sibal, declared that the party needed an urgent course correction and that “the time for introspection is over.” At the same time, Congressional allies in Bihar raised questions about Rahul Gandhi’s indifferent campaign.
While Rahul Gandhi has refused to return as president of Congress, he continues to lead on social media and other public platforms as he takes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
Sources say that the party apparatus remains under their control and important decisions are made with their approval.
The Congressional Work Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body, is expected to meet soon to finalize the dates for the election of the president and other panel members.
Sources say that for a section of leaders, Rahul Gandhi remains “the natural choice” to lead the party, but his reluctance throws the party into new confusion about an alternative. Sonia Gandhi, 74, has made it clear that she is only a placeholder. Congressional slump in various state and local body elections across the country has only led to more questions for Gandhi’s leadership.
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