When Rahul Gandhi is elevated, you will know: Sonia Gandhi to media

Rahul Gandhi is on a few week’s leave during the budget session to reflect on and chart a course for the future of the party, which has suffered a series of electoral reverses.

READ: No rift between Sonia, Rahul Gandhi, says Congress

Gandhi’s move has drawn critical remarks from the party’s rivals.

There is concern in the Congress over its electoral defeats, including its debacle in the Delhi assembly polls earlier this month in which it could not win a single seat in the 70-member house. The Congress had ruled Delhi on the trot for 15 years rill it was ousted in the Nov-Dec 2013 polls, which threw up a fractured verdict, necessitating the February elections.

Gandhi has held extensive consultations with party leaders and workers over the past few months to evolve a road map for the party’s revival.

Sources said there is a view in the party that Gandhi should get a free hand to implement his ideas and he should take responsibility as the party president.

The elevation, they said, could take place during a meeting of All India Congress Committee, expected in April or a Congress working committee meeting could be convened for the purpose.

Nine-time party MP Kamal Nath said in an interview on Wednesday that Gandhi should be made party chief and there cannot be two decision-making points in a party.

He said there were many occasions when Sonia Gandhi thinks Rahul Gandhi is doing something and vice-versa and it falls between two stools.

The former union minister said that Rahul Gandhi should be should be in a commanding position to implement the road map which will take the party forward.

Party general secretary Digvijaya Singh, who has earlier suggested that Rahul Gandhi should take full responsibility for the party, Wednesday said in an interview that the party vice-president “feels very strongly” that he is not being allowed to function independently by “vested interests”.