Cong workers feel Rahul should take over as party chief: Joshi

Congress workers feel that time has come for Rahul Gandhi to take over as Congress president in the wake of its improved showing in the Bihar polls, party General Secretary C P Joshi said today.
Joshi, who is in-charge of party affairs in the state, also insisted that the victory of the grand secular alliance over the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have "far reaching ramifications both nationally and internationally".
"Feeling of Congress workers now is that Rahul Gandhi should take over as party president," he told reporters at the AICC briefing.
Hailing the Congress Vice President as the "architect" (sutradhar) of the grand alliance, Joshi suggested that Gandhi played a key role in cobbling up the tie-up for the crucial polls.

He said while JD-U leader Nitish Kumar provided leadership to it, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad gave it strength.
Joshi's remarks have come at a time when Congress leaders are losing no time in crediting Rahul for the victory after the spectacular win of the Nitish Kumar-led coalition in Bihar.

While Nitish is the architect of the victory in Bihar, Rahul is the architect of the alliance, is the refrain being heard in the Congress.
Another party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed has already insisted that the grand alliance could not have been possible but for the effective role played Rahul.
Leaders recall that it was Rahul who brought Nitish and Lalu Prasad together and played a key role of catalyst at a time when the RJD supremo was having reservations.

The victory in Bihar is also being talked about as a good timing for Rahul to take over as party chief.
Party leaders say it is for party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul to decide on the issue. There was much talk that an AICC session could be held this month itself.
Bihar is the first state where Congress has done well after a long time -- the last major victory being the Karnataka assembly polls where it defeated the BJP.
Replying to a question, Joshi said that the victory of the grand alliance would have "far reaching ramifications, both nationally and internationally" as the whole world was watching the polls after the Prime Minister's visits to several countries to seek investment.