In a massive political development, according to a report by Navbharat times, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot might replace Rahul Gandhi as the president of All India Congress Committee. After facing another humiliating electoral defeat in the 2019 general elections, speculations over Rahul Gandhi continuing as the Congress President are ripe, both within and outside the party. Congress might have added a few seats to its total of 44 in 2014 to arrive at dismal 52 this general election however the margin of victory has been considerably reduced. Powerful Congress leaders like Mallikarjuna Kharge, Jyotiraditya Scindia even Rahul Gandhi has lost from erstwhile strongholds of the Congress.
With a dismal performance, the ground is open for the blame game. A barrage of resignations from various State and district Congress committee presidents have already flown in. Joining in trend is Congress President Rahul Gandhi himself, who faced a humiliating defeat against BJP’s Smriti Irani in Amethi. However Congress’ Central Working Committee had out rightly rejected his resignation. Filled with Gandhi loyalists’ this move by Congress’ CWC is surely not a surprise to any. However, the Grand old party has so far failed to convince Rahul Gandhi to withdraw his resignation.
Speculations are also ripe that, Ashok Gehlot’s move to the central party leadership might place Rajasthan Dy CM Sachin pilot in a favorable position to take over the CM’s post in the state. The All India Congress Committee after the massive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections has been nothing less than a family show. With senior leaders openly dissenting and registering their protest against party‘s central leadership, Rahul Gandhi’s stepping down will surely be welcomed by a significant part of Congress leadership.
Ashok Gehlot had also met the Congress President on his birthday yesterday at the party headquarter and urged him to remain the party chief in the interests of his country and people. Ashok Gehlot said, “Rahul Gandhi took the fight against the Narendra Modi government for the last five years on issues of unemployment and youths.”
Only time will tell if Rahul Gandhi will step down and if he does who will be filling in his shoes, till then the Congress is sure to face calls for massive restructuring from within the party and its sympathizers from outside.