 "Sonia Gandhi may stay on as Congress chief")
Rahul Gandhi’s promotion as Congress president might not happen soon as the grand old party is likely to give another extension to Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving party chief holding the post since 1998.
According to sources, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the body which takes key policy decisions, in its meeting on Monday is likely to extend Sonia’s term as party chief for one more year after her present tenure ends on December 31.
This would mean the large-scale shake-up expected in the Congress since the party lost the 2014 national polls might be delayed as the exercise had been closely linked with Rahul’s elevation to the top post in the party.
Sources said there had been some talk in the recent weeks about allowing Rahul to take charge and prepare his own team for the 2019 national polls. But, that plan seems to have been put off for now and any decision on the issue is expected only after the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa are over in early 2017.
Rahul is deeply involved in Uttar Pradesh where the Congress is hoping to reverse its fortunes with some help from strategist Prashant Kishor and any distraction at this point should be avoided.
According to party insiders, although Rahul takes all key decisions with Sonia’s consent, disturbing the status-quo in the organisation at this point was found to be undesirable.
Recently at a party meeting of state social media teams, Rahul had responded to a query saying he would take over as party chief soon. Later, sources said the move would happen at an appropriate time as decided by Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Vadra.
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After the CWC approval, the decision to extend Sonia’s term will be communicated to the Election Commission.
Another pressing issue that might come up before the CWC is the party’s internal elections pending since last year.
Sources said the exercise to elect office bearers both at the central and state levels would have ended with the election for the post of Congress president. But, it had to be postponed indefinitely as there was no clarity on the issue of leadership change as Rahul remained reluctant to take over the party.
Another section of the Congress, however, saw the delay as the handiwork of the vested interests who want Sonia to remain as party chief and fear losing their primacy if Rahul was made party chief.
Further, state party units were finding it difficult to update the membership list as rural women voters did not want to get photographed. The All India Congress Committee had mandated a photograph to weed out the bogus entries in the party’s membership list.