Rahul Gandhi is set to take charge of the Congress, with the timing reportedly only a matter of detail. His mother Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who underwent a major surgery in a US hospital early this month, could remain indisposed for a prolonged period. And Rahul, who returned to India on Sunday, is reportedly getting a new, redefined role within the party organisation.
Making his first public appearance since news of Sonia’s illness broke, Rahul said she is ?much better? now.
On Monday, Rahul appeared to be bracing for the bigger responsibility. Although it was party treasurer Motilal Vora who unfurled the Tricolour at the Congress headquarters, Rahul took over after the event, holding a one-and-a-half-hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other senior leaders in Sonia’s office.
Rahul was in full control, choosing and inviting senior leaders to be part of his deliberations with the Prime Minister, which were reportedly focused on the government’s strategy vis-a-vis Anna Hazare?s planned fast.
Before leaving for her surgery, Sonia had appointed a four-member committee to look after party affairs in her absence. Apart from Rahul, it comprises her political secretary Ahmed Patel, defence minister AK Antony and general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi.
Party sources said on Monday the four-member committee is only an interim arrangement. ?Rahul may be appointed working president or there may be some other model of succession. Nothing has been decided yet. His role will be fully defined after the Congress president returns to the country,? a senior Congress leader told The Indian Express, adding Rahul?s role is likely to be redefined in a couple of months.
Sources in the party, however, ruled out the possibility of Rahul’s appointment as working president, citing his reluctance earlier to be appointed vice-president of the party.
After the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Congress headquarters, following which the PM and Rahul distributed sweets among children, party leaders, including ministers, went inside the building.
Shortly afterwards, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee was seen stepping out. AICC secretary Manish Chatrath was immediately sent after him to request him to come back and join the talks. Rahul was said to have also briefed senior leaders about Sonia?s health condition.
Information & broadcasting minister Ambika Soni was asked to join the talks, as was Dwivedi, who is Congress’s media department chairman.
While Mukherjee and Antony left after about an hour, Rahul and the PM continued talks with Soni and Dwivedi. Many senior leaders and ministers who were waiting outside left as the meeting got prolonged. Vora, Ahmed Patel and Dwivedi later accompanied Rahul to the entrance of 10 Janpath, to see him off ? the way they used to whenever Sonia came to party headquarters.