From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: Confusion continues in the Congress on who will take over as its president after Sonia Gandhi, who has cited her health as a reason for not continuing any further.
Her son Rahul Gandhi, who quit as the party president in the wake of the party’s debacle in the last Lok Sabha elections, is still reluctant. The new president has to be elected by September 21, but Rahul has not given any indications to take the responsibility.
The Congress President’s election schedule began on August 20, but the poll in-charge Madhusudan Mistry has reluctantly not announced the process like last date of nomination, withdrawals and elections. He says the schedule will be declared after the Congress Working Committee gives an approval.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday said everyone in the Congress wants Rahul to head the party, “but we cannot put pressure on him.” Only early this week, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who may be picked up for the post, urged Rahul to become the Congress president as the Congress people across the country have great expectations from him.
Digvijaya Singh told NDTV that it is up to Rahul to decide. How can someone be forced to take over, he asked. He referred to Ashok Gehlot’s appeal to Rahul and hoped Rahul will understand the feelings of the Congress members who will be dejected to withdraw from politics if he remains adamant in not accepting the responsibility.
