Abodh Sharma
Jammu, Jan 20: Congress party's mega PR exercise -the Jaipur Chintan Shivir ended up in a massive PR initiative to project Rahul Gandhi, the party general secretary as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party for the next general elections scheduled for 2014.
While the elevation of Rahul as the vice president of the party ended the debate over the number two slot in the party and the UPA that had fallen vacant after Pranab Mukherjee moved to the Rasht-rapati Bhawan and even left Sharad Pawar, the NCP president and the UPA ally sulking, it has once again brought to the fore Congress's obsession with the Gandhi family. Congress leaders of all shapes and sizes, from veteran Mohsina Kidwai who became Minister for the first time when Rahul was just 3, to Sachin Pilot, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were falling over each other to garland Rahul on his elevation while proud mother, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi watched from the podium. The Congressmen then took turns to get on air and extend their congratulatory messages to the newly nominated Vice president.
Eventhough Sonia Gandhi did some plain speaking in her address reaching out to partymen, Opposition, common man and even Pakistan, the Chintan Shivir, which was called to deliberate on more pressing issues facing the country and the Congress party, was reduced into Sonia- Rahul sycophancy by the party leaders and workers.
While there is unprecedented air of expectancy in the Congress camp over the nomination of Rahul Gandhi, Rahul has yet to prove his mettle as a leader. Eventhough he has succeeded in mobilizing the youth within the party and getting them involved in the decision making, crushing defeat in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections wherein he led his party from the front has put a serious question mark on both, his political acumen and leadership qualities.
Congress party's obsession with Gandhi family can also be gauged from the fact that the party has been making efforts to get Priyanka Gandhi also christened into politics. However, recent disclosures and allegations on her husband Robert Vadra have lowered down the rhetoric.
Meanwhile, the PCC also broke into euphoric celebrations over Rahul's appointment as party vice president.
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