Congress President
Anil Anand
How and why a year old interview of AICC general secretary, Mrs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra suddenly popped up in a section of the media? Does it have any direct relation with Congress convincingly thwarting the BJP bid to overthrow Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan through rebellious Mr Sachin Pilot?
As soon as the Rajasthan’s political theatre of the absurd was over and the BJP spokespersons including some Union Ministers exercised heavily that whatever had happened in Rajasthan was the handiwork of internal squabbles of Congress and that the saffron party had no role in what Mr Pilot and his band of MLAs were doing, suddenly reappeared Mrs Vadra’s old interview. Compare it with the BJP leaders’ oft-repeated statements in the face of successful operation ‘Kamal’ in Madhya Pradesh and some other states where they pulled down the Congress governments, that whosoever agreed with the BJP’s ideology was welcome to the party fold.
What did she say in her interview of July 2019? She had supported Mr Rahul Gandhi’s earlier statement that he would welcome a non-Gandhi family person as the party president. She not only expressed her willingness to work under such a person but accept if ordered to leave charge of Uttar Pradesh and banished to Andaman and Nicobar for party work.
If AICC media department chairman, Mr Randeep Surjewala is to be believed the reappearance of her interview with an impression that as if it was the latest one, has been done at the behest of the ruling BJP. And after that recounted how Mr Rahul Gandhi has single-handedly waged a war against the “wrong policies” of the Modi Government without caring for “adverse circumstances” and “targeted personal attacks on him” and that “the country at such a juncture needs such fearless and courageous leadership”.
This clarificatory statement goes on to say much more than merely rebutting recirculation of Mrs Vadra’s interview which ostensibly has been done with a sole aim to create a bogey against a member of the Gandhi family bidding again for the party presidentship. And what better timing than the Rajasthan fiasco (from the BJP’s angle) to divert the public attention and at the same time fuel the Gandhi family versus non-family candidate debate to create confusion in the Congress rank and file.
Mr Surjewala’s statement leaves none in doubt that Mr Rahul Gandhi was very much in the reckoning to become the party president again. There is no doubt that he has been waging a lone battle against Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi’s “wrong policies” and despite his complaint against his own party colleagues (read senior leaders) in the last Congress Working Committee (CWC) on their studied silence in taking Mr Modi head-on, none has come out of the closet so far.
The Congress’ success in saving the Rajasthan Government has brought forth some interesting nuances from the point of view of the political analysts. There was a marked change in strategy from Madhya Pradesh where veterans Mr Kamal Nath and Mr Digvijay Singh held the fort but failed to save it. Compare it with Rajasthan where, naturally, chief minister, Mr Gehlot had to be in the fore-front to save his citadel but the entire back up team comprised of the gen-next or the Rahul Gandhi close-aides. Even the AICC general secretary in charge Rajasthan, Mr Avinash Pandey had to lose his job for what Mr Pilot alleged the former’s proximity to Mr Gehlot and some veteran Congress leaders in Delhi.
The first round went to Mr Gehlot and the backup team sent by Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi from Delhi. The second round, with the removal of Mr Pandey, as demanded by Mr Pilot, and replacement by former Union Minister, Mr Ajay Maken, certainly went Mr Gandhi’s way. The troika of AICC general secretary (organisation) Mr K C Venugopal, Mr Maken and Mr Surjewala not only provided the steadying effect to the entire operation but also prevented any chances of derailment as had happened in Goa, Madhya Pradesh and some north-eastern states where Congress despite enjoying a majority failed to form the government and part blame lay on its managers mostly the leaders of the old guard variety.
All three- Mr Venugopal, Mr Maken and Mr Surjewala- were handpicked by Mr Gandhi to be drafted for Rajasthan. There is no doubt that the indispensible and rightly known as “Mr Dependable”, Mr Ahmed Patel was also in the thick of action and well-versed with back-room operations he also chipped in with valuable contributions that ostensibly involved managing Mr Gehlot whereas both Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mrs Vadra were in direct touch with Mr Pilot. However, learning from the past experiences the balancing act between two generations had been immaculately planned and executed, with the initiative and decision making remaining in the hands of Mr Gandhi and his team.
Under normal circumstances there would have been no way that the Gandhis could overlook the rebellious Mr Pilot but in the current situation where the Congress has already lost Madhya Pradesh and couple of other states, despite winning majority, the first priority for the party was to save its government and prevent fissures from occurring. This is a fact that Mr Gehlot had comfortable majority that got further strengthened after some of the Pilot supporting MLAs also turned towards the former, but perhaps it also became a priority for the Gandhis to stop and convince Mr Pilot from deserting the party and go the Jyotiraditya Scindia way. That is why they went all out to woo the former state deputy chief minister.
The tough task lies ahead both for Mr Gandhi, who as is clear by his actions acting as a de facto president, and Mr Gehlot. Although truce has been called for the time being between Mr Gehlot and Mr Pilot but the tremors are still being felt every now and then. Both Mr Gandhi and Mrs Vadra would have to undertake a tightrope walk in dealing with the two leaders and at the same time keep Mr Pilot away from the prowling eyes of those waiting to lap up any opportunity de-stabilise the government.
What is the message that drafting of three of his comparatively young close aides by Mr Gandhi to save Rajasthan government has delivered? It is in some ways indicative of the things to follow wherein may be Mr Gandhi fresh form this victory, finally decides to take over as the party president and at the same time give young, dynamic and loyal leaders more chances in rebuilding the organisation. The sudden appointment of Mr Maken as AICC general secretary in charge of Rajasthan is one such nuance worth noting in this context. The one ostensive reason for Mr Gandhi reposing faith in him is Mr Maken’s low-profile but delivery oriented style of functioning be it as Union or Delhi Minister, chairman of AICC’s media department or the DPCC chief which he took over under adverse circumstances but managed to resurrect the almost dead organisation.
What if the Gandhi family decides to back a non-family member as the party president? It will always remain a possibility as is the case with Mr Gandhi despite his repeated denials till the final word comes.
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