Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

Rahul Gandhi took charge as the Congress party’s president on Saturday and was handed the certificate for taking over in the presence of his mother Sonia Gandhi, who steps down from the post with her son’s elevation, and former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

Now that Sonia Gandhi is handing over the reins of the party to Rahul, we salute her for uniting the leadership, something that she has been doing since 19 years. Rahul brings a new sense of dedication and commitment (as party president), Ex. PM Manmohan Singh said after Rahul’s elevation. “I am sure the party will scale new heights of glory,” he said.

Celebrations began early this morning, party workers were seen dancing, distributing sweets outside the Congress headquarter in Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi contested Lok Sabha election for the first time in 2004 from Amethi and won. He became Congress general secretary in 2007 and vice-president 2013.

As the president of Congress, Rahul Gandhi will have many challenges to overcome.

COME OUT OF NEHRU-GANDHI SHADOW

Rahul Gandhi has inherited the Nehru-Gandhi legacy but it may not be enough to win over young voters. Aspirations of a young India have changed and Rahul Gandhi will have to come out of the Nehru-Indira Gandhi shadow to reach out to them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for connecting directly with the voters, and Rahul may have to find his own way of opening a direct line with people.

STRENGTHEN CONGRESS

Rahul Gandhi’s biggest challenge will be to strengthen the Congress which has lost one state after the other following the rout in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Rahul is taking over the Congress at a time when it has governments in just six states. Infusing energy into the Congress and its workers will be a big task for Rahul as the party president.

LEAD PARTY WITH NEW VISION

Rahul Gandhi’s social media avatar is the talk of the town. He has gone colloquial in his election speeches in Gujarat which has helped him connect with people across the country. The way Rahul has reoriented his style in the election season, he needs to do the same with the party, providing it with a new vision and a fresh perspective.

FIGHT MODI WAVE

As Congress president, Rahul Gandhi will take on Narendra Modi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won successive elections across the country in the name of Modi. Such is the might of the Modi wave that it even wrested power from the Congress in its traditional stronghold of Assam. Rahul’s big challenge will be to fight this Modi wave.

BUILD STRONG OPPOSITION

One of the reasons for the BJP’s golden run in elections is the Congress’ lackluster performance as the main Opposition inside and outside Parliament. The Congress will have to take on the Modi government on every issue possible and at every possible platform–from public rallies to Parliament. Rahul Gandhi will have to lead the Congress as a strong Opposition to the BJP government.

STRIKE BALANCE BETWEEN YOUNG AND SENIOR

Another challenge for Rahul Gandhi as Congress president will be to strike a balance between the young and senior leaders. In several states, the Congress units are witnessing a power tussle between young Congress faces and the old guard.

Some instances are Sachin Pilot versus Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan, Jyotiraditya Scindia versus Digvijaya Singh in Madhya Pradesh and Ajay Maken versus Sheila Dikshit in Delhi.

WIN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN BIG STATES

As the Congress president, Rahul Gandhi will be responsible for the party’s win or loss in the Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Next year too, some big states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka will be going to polls before the big Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The Congress’ performance in these states will make or mar Rahul Gandhi’s future as a challenger to Narendra Modi.

CHALLENGES WITHIN PARTY

Rahul Gandhi’s elevation will end the confusion about dual command in the central leadership of the Congress party. However, it will be interesting to see what role Sonia Gandhi assumes or given in the rejigged party structure apart from that of a ceremonial mentor.

Rahul and Sonia Gandhi have cultivated their own coteries over the years in the Congress party. The old guard has been more comfortable with Sonia Gandhi and is likely to keep poking its nose in the affairs of the party in future as well. Rahul backers, on the other hand, want to look beyond.

As Congress president, Rahul Gandhi will now be held accountable directly for all the failures – which are bound to come given the state of the Congress – in electoral politics. Rahul Gandhi will have to rebuild his team of advisors to deal with the challenges.

By brijesh