Letters: Why bank on Rahul?

With reference to Priayanka Rathi’s report, “Will he, won’t he? Congress sets stage for ‘reluctant’ Rahul Gandhi to take charge as party president” (November 8), it’s strange that despite Congress Working Committee (CWC) members unanimously supporting his elevation as party chief, he was unwilling to take charge. 

This, despite Gandhi earlier publicly claiming that he was ready to accept whatever responsibility was bestowed upon him by his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the CWC in “fighting for the idea of India”.

It was interesting to read the remarks of Randeep Singh Surjewala, the All India Congress Committee Communications in-charge, on this matter. 

Let us not deliberate upon and debate Gandhi’s political track record. But in response to the writer’s query, “Not ready to take any chance with Congress’ fortune, is Rahul playing safe?”, I think he might be aware of his own “worth” to the party and the nation. It’s a different matter that he has been trying to project himself as a national leader with a few “parroted” issues/slogans. The fact remains that he must thank his stars for being a scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.   

It is strange the Congress continues to bank upon him even though there have been reports of him being inaccessible and cut off from reality apart from his failure to galvanise the youth or translate their support into votes.

If this 130-year-old national party is still waiting for his “yes”, it’s a boat that may sink earlier than expected. It may even be reduced to the status of a “regional” party.

S Kumar, New Delhi

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