Differing views among partymen on Congress leadership

Ambika Soni, Sandeep Dikshit favour Sonia's continuation as party chief; Rahul camp wants a change

The Congress on Monday confirmed that party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will address the proposed Kisan Mazdoor rally here on April 19 to protest the National Democratic Alliance’s land acquisition Bill, even as speculation continue, to rage over his extended leave.

This comes even as several party leaders, including Sandeep Dikshit and Ambika Soni, have spoken out on the need for Sonia Gandhi to continue as Congress president. If not for Rahul Gandhi’s sudden decision to go on a sabbatical, it was believed the party was preparing to anoint him for the party’s top post; a decision which has divided Congress members.

Addressing the media, spokesperson Digvijaya Singh said, “Rahul Gandhi will address the Kisan Rally of Congress on April 19.” Singh was trying to put to rest doubts over Rahul Gandhi’s role within the party in the coming months. This was within hours of Ambika Soni telling PTI, “There is no question of having one at the cost of the other. The Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) is our president. We need her.” While extolling Rahul Gandhi, Soni recalled Sonia Gandhi’s contribution to the party, “We know that Sonia Gandhi, through her leadership qualities, brought the Congress back to power. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) was constituted because she went interacting with leaders of secular parties and we had UPA-1 and UPA-II. Today we are in opposition again. We are lucky to have Sonia Gandhi as the president.” A day before Sandeep Dikshit had made similar comments.

Meanwhile, the Congress dismissed the reports that the party has postponed the proposed AICC session. The party, however, did not confirm whether the session was expected to take place in May or had been postponed to September, by when internal elections of the party would be concluded. It has been speculated that Rahul Gandhi could be handed over charge at such a party session.

However, a senior AICC general secretary, who is considered close to Rahul Gandhi, said, “A generational change has to take place. It is the law of nature. Can you defy the law of nature?”