by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
special report
Clamour for Rahul Gandhi's return as Congress Chief grows
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Dec 13
Congress Interim president Sonia Gandhi has renewed her efforts to persuade Rahul Gandhi to take the reins of the party once again.
Rahul Gandhi who had virtually gone into a shell, stopped meeting party leaders, attending meetings and remaining absent from Lok Sabha, has been active again.
He has not only been active on twitter but meeting with leaders again. He also attended the Speaker, Om Birla's customary tea party this afternoon after the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine-die.
He has agreed to address the Congress rally tomorrow at Ramlila grounds – a brainchild of Sonia Gandhi, aimed at bringing focus on Rahul Gandhi. Enthused by the formation of the Opposition government in Maharashtra, slowdown in the economy and growing protests against the CAB, Sonia Gandhi decided to hold a major rally in the Capital.
There are reports that leaders after leaders of the party will make a plea to Rahul Gandhi to take back his resignation at tomorrow's rally. Though the official purpose of the rally is to attack on the NDA government for its failure on all front and show to the people that Congress is an credible alternative, the covert purpose is to persuade Rahul Gandhi to listen to the voices of leaders and withdraw his resignation.
Rahul Gandhi did not listen to her advice and abruptly resigned taking responsibility for the rout of the party immediately after the Lok Sabha polls. Though leaders present at the Congress Working Committee tried hard to persuade him not to press for his resignation, he insisted on resigning. Its a different matter that his resignation was never accepted by the working committee and pending his absence, Sonia Gandhi took interim charge of the party.
Several senior party functionaries including Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, chief ministers of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have openly asked Rahul Gandhi to take back resignation.
Though Sonia Gandhi as Interim chief has improved the Congress graph in several states including Haryana and Maharashtra. But she wants to relinquish the charge due to various reasons including health reasons.
All eyes are now set on Jharkhand, where Assembly poll process is on and the party is upbeat.
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