Sonia will take the party to its "deserved glory": Party mouthpiece

Sonia Gandhi, who completed 17 years as Congress President this month, will "once again" lead the party to take it to its "deserved glory", the party mouthpiece said Tuesday amidst intense speculation whether Rahul Gandhi will take the party's mantle any time soon.

     New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi, who completed 17 years as Congress President this month, will "once again" lead the party to take it to its "deserved glory", the party mouthpiece said Tuesday amidst intense speculation whether Rahul Gandhi will take the party's mantle any time soon.

      "Once again she will lead the party in the fight against anti-incumbency and falsehood....To bring the party to its deserved glory", the Congress Sandesh said in its latest issue.

       The statement assumes significant amidst a raging debate over party Vice President Rahul Gandhi's prolonged absence and whether on his return he would take over as President, for which election has been announced on September 30.

       Yesterday the AICC announced that Rahul, who is on a long sabbattical, will be back in action  to attend a Kisan rally here on April 19 against land ordinance brought out by the Narendra Modi government.

   The rally is important as it is being held on the eve of the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament at a time when almost the entire opposition has joined ranks against the ordinance, which is being dubbed by them as "anti-farmer and pro-corporate".

       In its editorial, the party journal said that Sonia Gandhi completed 17 years as Congress chief on March 12.

       "There has been no precedent of any person holding the position of the Congress President for 17 years in the 130 years history of the Grand Old Party", it said.

       It recalled that Gandhi has led the party earlier at a time when it was passing through a turmoil and restored it to its primacy, an obvious reference to the return to power of the party in 2004.