Why has Rahul Gandhi Run Away?

NEW DELHI: Is it ‘time to think’? Is it an attempt to deflect growing criticism? And in the process buy time? Or is it just a holiday in Greece that the Congress party with the media of course, is unnecessarily agonising over?

There are as many views as there are Congress leaders. But on two issues there is a consensus, even in this warring party of many factions. One, that Rahul Gandhi has the support of Congress president Sonia Gandhi who is part of the decision, whatever it is. And two, there could not be a worse time for the scion to have taken off, as this is not being interpreted as bravado but as an ‘opting out’ by the rank and file of the party.

The last then leads to the question: is it over finally? And has Rahul Gandhi, given the flak he has been getting decided to move back to what little he was doing before his mother brought him into politics? Unlikely say those who should know in the party, insisting that he will be back and has used this opportunity to effect a change of guard in the Congress.

There is no answer from these ‘sources’ when it comes to the question, why could he not have affected the supposed change in guard without having to flee the country? After all the party president is his own mother, who has been keen for him to take over the party in its entirety. And so far he has been projected as the ‘reluctant Prince’ who was not keen on taking the ‘plunge’, waiting for the moment to be right.

So when did the ‘reluctance’ that the media had been constantly briefed about become this over eagerness, to a point where he had to rebel by going to Greece to be heard? This narrative which is slowly gaining ground is that Rahul Gandhi has given an ultimatum to his mother to ensure that he has his full way in the Congress, and is not curtailed by those loyal to her. And that he can bring in his own team--unadulterated and unhindered---to take over the Congress and run it in the way he would like to. So far, goes this narrative, the scion has not been allowed to do what he thinks is best, with the ‘vested interests’ around the Congress president interfering constantly with their conservative views and perceptions.

But did Rahul not have his way during the Assembly elections in Gujarat? There is no firm response to this question, more so as the impression that was given out by the Congress at that time was that he was completely in charge, right from determining the candidates to finetuning the campaign. And even then the Congress lost miserably.

The team he wants to bring in are the usual suspects...Mohan Gopal, Ajay Maken. CP Joshi, Madhusudan Mistry---and the sources, covering up for his absence, insist that for Rahul Gandhi it is now a case of “zero or hundred.” Meaning either he is in complete charge, or he will resign and move out of politics.

Of course in the midst of this are the quiet murmurs of the disbelievers, who insist that the scion has just gone for a holiday and little more. They point out that he could have achieved all this without rushing off, more so as the crucial budget session of Parliament is on with several issues on the anvil. “The Congress needs a leader at this time, not a flee-er,” said a senior party leader who refuses to accept the ‘change in guard’ excuse.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has made no secret of her desire to hand over the reins of power to her son, who has been hesitant, and unable to take a decision on this. The debacle in the Lok Sabha with the party being reduced to single digit figures has been laid at Rahul Gandhi’s door with senior members of the party pleading with Sonia Gandhi not to hand over the mantle at this stage. According to most senior Congress leaders she has more acceptability within and outside the party, and Rahul Gandhi will not be able to manage to keep Congress leaders together.

The opposing argument, of those who are working directly with him, is that he is not being allowed his full say in the running of the party. And a report recently ‘leaked’ to the media suggested that he had been for an Arvind Kejriwal kind of strategy for the Congress party but was not allowed to have his say. And that if he is given full control, and allowed his own team he will deliver. And will revive the Congress as a party more responsive to the youth, and hence more relevant than it is today.

In between the two groups of loyalists are the sceptics who feel that the party cannot revive without drastic action, inner party democracy and collective leadership. It is this voice that is not being heard, and clearly if the holiday is indeed tactical, then it is this voice that Rahul Gandhi and his family are seeking to drown.