by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Rahul determined to quit, No formula acceptable
Blew his Top over CWC leak !
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, May 29
The crisis in the Congress showed no signs of easing with Rahul Gandhi firm on quitting party chief's post. He rather went a step further and told the CWC to find a new leader outside the Gandhi family to lead it and there is no going back.
An extremely upset Rahul Gandhi not only refused to meet senior party leaders after two tumultuous meetings- May 25 and May 27- but take their calls. Senior party leaders had gone to his 12 Tughlaq Lane residence yesterday to persuade him to reconsider his decision. Instead, he sped away in his Honda car with his pet. He did not even alert the SPG commandos guarding him 24X7 before leaving in a huff. Later, he was tracked at his sister Priyanka Vadra's Lodi Estate residence. He made it clear that he wants to give a free hand to the leader selected by the CWC.
Now on Priyanka Gandhi will interact with the party leaders.
Rahul Gandhi is virtually blew his top when he discovered that the deliberations at the extended CWC on May 25 were recorded and leaked by a member to a TV channel. The TV channel even broadcast the 30 second clip. Later, the clip was withdrawn. But someone sent the clip to Rahul Gandhi on his mobile and Rahul stunned everybody by telling them that “one of us has even leaked what is going on here.”
It is here when he said there are people who want to destroy the Congress from within. He also rapped a leader who left for London in the midst of the campaign.
Though there are many senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, A K antony, Motilal Vora and Shiela Dixit for the interim party chief post, Mallikarjun Kharge's prospects seems bright.
Sheila Dikshit has been quoted as saying it is difficult for party leaders to come to any conclusion now.
Even party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had hinted of the leak saying, “we expects everyone, including the media, to respect the sanctity of a closed-door meeting of the CWC.”
ends
