NEW DELHI, Oct 15:
Whether Ahmed Patel will survive? Whether likes of P Chidambaram, Digvijaya Singh and Ghulam Nabi Azad continue to get upper positions in the Congress command structure?
These are few questions being debated intensely in the Congress circle and at the AICC headquarters here as the stage is set for Rahul Gandhi to take charge of the party.
A number of key general secretaries running the party during last decade or so are gradually reconciling to the fact that ‘change’ is a permanent essence of life, more so in politics.
The common refrain among many key Congress leaders in last few weeks has been perhaps time has come for drastic changes in the party command structure as new faces could replace the old team.
“So what if they are mother (Sonia Gandhi) and son (Rahul) duo? No two individuals have same working style and can have the same team.
Hence, if some major changes come once Congress gets a new President, it should not be surprising for any political element,” a key party leader said here.
Among others, there is a whispering on whether the ‘transition’ initially will remain confined to AICC decision making body, the Congress Working Committee level, or could even percolate down to the level of Pradesh Congress chiefs and other frontal organisations. A few leaders, when contacted, also have fond memories of how Sonia Gandhi had started her journey, gaining confidence slowly steering Congress out of a mess in 2001-02 and then finally able to bring the party to power in 2004.
“Sonia Gandhi certainly took all major decisions for the party in the last decade, but she always made it a point to consult important stake holders and senior leaders. Initially that gave her as a sign of meekness, but in the long run, it all helped,” said a party leader.
On this backdrop, one leader recalls the surprise she sprang when in 2002, Sonia Gandhi appointed two political secretaries Ambica Soni and Ahmed Patel.
“This was a well thought out move and displayed Soniaji’s political acumen. She understood the importance of her No. 2. Sonia Gandhi knew that Jitendra Prasada was political adviser to PV Narasimha Rao, but had grown in stature too. He even contested for AICC president’s post,” the source said. In other words, leaders suggested that two ‘political secretaries’ also meant that the respective individual influence of both Ahmed Patel or Ambica Soni was reduced.
However, it is a different story that slowly Patel turned more ‘influential’ in the running of affairs at least in the party organisation. No one among established Congress leaders also miss the point that in elevating Ahmed Patel as ‘political secretary’, Sonia also gave a message to minorities.
As a result by 2004, the minorities’ consolidation in favour of Congress was complete and that was instrumental in bringing back Congress to power.
But everything said and done, the task ahead for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi would be more complex as unlike Atal Behari Vajpayee-brand of politics, the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo offers more aggressive challenges. According to party leaders, Rahul Gandhi would be required to maintain a “right balance” between young and old and also between leaders who have been working closely with him and a few senior leaders who have Sonia Gandhi’s ears.
In 2002, Sonia Gandhi had also surprised by bringing in Kerala leader Vayalar Ravi into the CWC as Ravi was known for being ‘anti-economic liberalisation’.
The party’s focus had shifted to common-man and it could outshine BJP’s hyped ‘India Shining’ campaign. “In Rahul Gandhi’s case too, such complex issues figure.
The Congress has to focus yet again on middle class and common man’s interests as the Modi Government’s economic policies seemed to have failed the people. Joblessness is yet again a major issue,” a party source said.
The Congress party’s internal analysis is Rahul Gandhi’s taking over of party affairs is coming at a “very opportune” moment as for the first time in last three-and-half years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at the receiving end of immense flak for mishandling country’s economy.
“There could not have been a better time for Rahul Gandhi as shattered confidence of business community, low growth graph and absence of promised jobs only talk about new challenges before BJP,” a key leader said.
True, Sonia Gandhi is all set to hand over the baton to son Rahul after being in the top slot for 19 years, after she took over the reins from an uninspiring Sitaram Kesri, but the ‘old guard’ in her party would still remain important players in the running of the Congress under Rahul in more ways than one.
But for Rahul Gandhi, as admitted by an AICC general secretary, the real challenge will be to present himself as a “crystal clear alternative to Narendra Modi”.
The big question, how will he do so? The leader has the answer: “Rahul Gandhi has to change the narrative. He has to offer a new economic agenda, where pro-poor welfare schemes can appeal more. Right caste-combination need to be worked out too as many social segments have deserted Congress in the past”. (UNI)
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