by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Rahul Reluctant campaigner in Assembly polls
Congress banking on Sonia, Priyanka
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Sep 26
There is intense speculation in the Congress whether former Congress president Rahul Gandhi will campaign in Maharashtra and Haryana in the ensuing Assembly polls.
The speculation gained momentum as Rahul Gandhi has become incommunicado and stays away from party activities. Except for visiting his parliamentary constituency Wayanad in Kerala, he is not taking interest in party affairs.
he has shunned meeting even the senior leaders and did not attend the CWC meeting and other meetings. So much so that when senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad wanted to inquire through his office if he would be campaigning for the Haryana Assembly polls, he did not get any response. Though he has not said a "No" to the campaigning but he has not consented as yet.
If sourcese are to be believed, Rahul Gandhi is expected to participate in the foot march (Padyatra) from Gandhi Ashram in Wardha. But its a non-political program and not part of the poll campaign.
However, there are indications that Congress president Sonia Gandhi, despite not so good health, will address a couple of rallies in the two states. Priyanka Gandhi, incharge of UP, may visit Haryana as she is under extreme pressure from the state leaders including Sejia, B S Hooda and others.
The Congress' leadership problem is that it doesn't have star campaigners except the Gandhis and sword of uncertainty is hanging. Even Navjot Singh Sidhu has gone in hibernation.
The party is in the process of compiling a comprehensive list of its campaigners in the Assembly polls.
However, Rahul Gandhi is active on twitter stridently opposing the abrogation of Article 370 despite the party officially had been coy. In fact, the party has allowed different voices to be expressed by its leaders sensing the mood of the people.
Rahul Gandhi has been poking fun at PM Modi for HOWDY, Modi at Houston and on other issues.
This is the only visible line of communication he has kept open with the party.
Otherwise, he is confined to reading books, watching TV on the big screen at his Tughlaq Road residence, visiting Khan market with a couple of close friends, rigorous workout at the gym at home and talking to non-political friends.
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