Despite Rahul’s refusal, efforts being made to make him agree to contest as Congress president. Other probables are Ashok Gehlot, Malikarjun n Shinde !
Despite former Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s refusal and being adamant not to contest the presidential election of the party slated for 19 October, the senior Congress leaders within the party close to Nehru Gandhi family are trying hard to agree Rahul Gandhi for the top slot of the 137 year old party.
However, in case he does not contest there are three probables in the party viz. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, tow octogenarians Mallikarjun Kharge and Sushil Kumar Shinde from Karnataka and Maharashtra.
There are reports that Rahul Gandhi personally favours Rajya, Sabha MP n senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, though the name of Ashok Gehlot remains on the top reveal sources. In case Ashok Gehlot is made to contest n becomes president, the senior Congress loyalist and present speaker in Rajasthan assembly and former union minister CP Joshi may take over as next Rajasthan CM, not the son of former union minister and Senior leader late, Rajesh Pilot, Sachin Pilot, who is keenly eying on the chief minister’s chair since long.
There are reports that after the exit of the party veteran Ghul Nabi Azad training his guns against Sonia and, Rahul Gandhi incessantly, and Anand Sharma, Manish Tiwari and Karti Chidambaram too asking for displaying the list of Congress members n delegates in public who will vote for the new chief including Shashi Tharoor demanding free and fair elections it looks that all is not good within Congress party whose interim president is abroad for treatment.
However, Rahul Gandhi has probably returned to India yesterday evening as he has to address a massive Congress rally at Ram Lila grounds on Sunday and thereafter initiate n participate in the 3500 kilometres long Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir covering 12 states commencing from 7 th September.
The Yatra will take 150 days at the pan India level to complete. According to news reports in case Rahul Gandhi who is extremely adamant agrees to contest as Congress chief wanting some non family leader to take the cudgels of the party in his hands will come for a day Or two to Delhi in between on September 25 to file his nomination papers to be proposed, seconded n completion of other formalities etc.
Though there seems to be internal bickerings in the party and possible opposition by some G 23 group leaders but the fact remains that Rahul Gandhi still commands tremendous support within the party and there is general assumption that none other than ony one of the Gandhi family especially Rahul Gandhi can take the party forward vigorously and with immense strength and energy.
