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  • Congress leader Rahul Gandhi opened the party's campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections with an Insaaf rally in Sangrur, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's home district, accusing the AAP government of failing to control drugs, gangster violence and corruption. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge outlined six commitments, including a drug-free Punjab, protection of farmers, employment for young people and action against corruption
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Rahul Gandhi Will Continue To Be De Facto President

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2022-10-18 03:11:46

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack

Ninety-six percent of the members of the 9600-strong electoral college voted in the elections for the post of the Congress president, proving once again that the Congress needs to adopt democratic means to revive itself. Although cynics have not given much importance to these elections as, according to them, the result is obvious as Mallikarjun Kharge, said to be the 'official' nominee of the Gandhi family, will win hands down and Shashi Tharoor stands no chance, yet the very fact that elections are being held for the post and no one from the Gandhi family is contesting is a huge thing for the Congress. This will be the first time in 24 years that the party will be headed by a non-Gandhi.

It has been argued by the critics of the Congress that not having a full-time chief has hurt the party and made it look as if it was not serious enough. The party has addressed that and will now have an elected president. But the problem with the Congress is that Rahul Gandhi acts and works like the de-facto president without holding the post. Hence, even after being given a comprehensive brief by the Gandhi family, whoever becomes the next president will not be able to work independently. He will not have much say in deciding the agenda going forward nor will he be able to put in place a team of his liking. He will always be subservient to Rahul Gandhi and the high command, in that order.

That is why it was necessary for Rahul Gandhi to be the Congress president - either through election or directly. He could have appointed a working president and a team of other office-bearers of his choice to look after the day-to-day matters and led the party as its chief on the streets - as he is now doing by undertaking the Bharat Jodo Yatra. But the problem with Rahul Gandhi is that he wants to be in the limelight without taking the responsibility, or possibly not to allow the BJP from targeting him. But that is not fooling anyone. It is clear that even if Kharge - or Tharoor - is president, the shots will be called by Rahul Gandhi. 

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