Rahul Gandhi's elevation as Congress president likely; Sonia's role unclear

Amid heightened speculations about Rahul Gandhi's elevation as Congress president, Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the media will be duly informed when the development takes place.

Rahul Gandhi's elevation as Congress president likely; Sonia's role unclear

New Delhi: Amid heightened speculations about Rahul Gandhi's elevation as Congress president, Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the media will be duly informed when the development takes place.

New agency ANI on Thursday quoted Sonia Gandhi as saying, “When he (Rahul) will be made the president of the party, you (media) will be informed.”

However, it remains unclear whether Sonia will take a sabbatical from politics, or will assume role of being a mentor or chairman emeritus.

Meanwhile, Rahul's 'sabbatical' seems to have opened a Pandora's Box in the Congress party.

Senior party leaders have now claimed that Rahul, party vice-president, feels he is not being allowed to function independently and that he and party president Sonia Gandhi are not always on same page as far as decision-making is concerned.

Speaking to a news channel, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh Wednesday claimed that Rahul has a very strong feeling that "vested interests" in the party are preventing him from functioning independently.

Singh dismissed speculation that Rahul Gandhi could "run away" from politics and maintained that he is made of "sterner staff" and will return to lead the party.

The AICC general secretary at the same felt that the Congress vice president is encountering resistance from within in implementing his ideas because some leaders feel that they would lose their clout they enjoy today if Gandhi's ideas are implemented.

There are indications that Rahul, who is currently the vice president, could be made the party chief later this year as the tenure of Congress president Sonia Gandhi comes to an end in September.

While it is not clear whether the elevation could happen at the AICC session itself, which is expected to be held in the first week of April, top party sources do not discount the possibility of the Congress vice president taking over as the party chief finally this year.

With Congress' fortunes ebbing, is it right time to elevate Rahul Gandhi? in Nation on LockerDome

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