Congress asserts all is well: Twin power centres at work

Gen Secy Digvijay Singh observed that Sonia Gandhi leading the party, Manmohan Singh leading the govt hadn't worked out quite well

A subtle war of words has broken out in the Congress after party leader and  General Secretary Digvijay Singh observed that a two power centre model – Sonia Gandhi leading the party and Manmohan Singh leading the government – had not really worked.

Yesterday party spokesman Janardan Dwivedi contradicted Singh and said it had worked so well it might even be replicated for the future.

Today Singh said he stood by his remarks, adding he would abide by party discipline, but asserting that the model needed to be revisited.

The background is: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s sense of hurt, quickly picked up by party president Sonia Gandhi, at the implication that after having run the Congress-led government for nine years, the party suddenly found him expendable. On his way back from South Africa, the PM implied he would not be averse to a second term, on the same day Digvijay said the dual power centre model had not worked.

Gandhi departed for the US with daughter Priyanka, two days ago for a medical check up. But before she left, she made her displeasure known over remarks that undermined the authority of the Prime Minister.

Digvijay Singh had said, "I feel this model hasn't worked very well. There should not be two power centres. I think whoever is the Prime Minister must have the authority to function.”

The message that had gone out through Singh’s statement was “wrong and had to be corrected”, says sources. “It was imperative that the Opposition not be handed out further ammunition to attack the Congress with. The BJP has always been accusing us of dual power centres and when a leader with the stature of Digvijay Singh says so it erodes the achievements of the nine year Congress led UPA rule,” adds another Congress leader.

A senior Congress minister said, “We are happy with the present structure as the party President is taking care of the organization and the PM focusing on governance. The PM’s role nowadays has become more demanding and it is not possible to do justice to both roles. The model has been working well.”

Janardhan Dwivedi rejecting Digvijay Singh’s statement had added, “The relationship which exists between the Congress President and the Prime Minister today is unique and something which has never been seen before and perhaps this should be the ideal model for future also.”

Congress leaders say they are happy with either model: Rahul Gandhi as PM with Sonia Gandhi at the helm of the party; or Manmohan Singh in command with Rahul Gandhi as head of party. “Even President Obama would not be able to manage in this day and age if he was heading the Democratic party as well as running the United States” a Congressman said.

However, Congressmen say the last word on this subject hasn’t been spoken yet. They also say that this is an exchange between two groups in the Congress. One favours a more aggressive role by Rahul Gandhi in government, while the other believes he would be better off handling the party. The clash between these two interests is palpable and is likely to become even sharper as general elections approach.