With Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi likely to return from his two-month long sabbatical on Wednesday, senior party leaders have been hinting that he may take a more proactive role. Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh said Rahul needs to be seen more and politics cannot be taken as a part time job.
Rahul has been facing severe criticism ever since Congress's decimation in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in which his party managed to win just 44 seats in the 545-member House. His sudden absence from the political scene just as Parliament's Budget Session was about to start on February 23 gave his rivals another chance to question his leadership qualities and interest in politics
While commenting on the Lok Sabha election debacle, Singh said, "We lost the war of perception. Rahul didn't project himself the way Narendra Modi did. Rahul should have been more aggressive in Lok Sabha elections.
He must speak everyday on the issues and speak to the media. Rahul now has to come out very strongly and go through the length and breadth of the country and connect with people on all big issues.
Nothing is holding him back but he was probably not ready earlier or he didn't want to upstage the PM (former prime minister Manmohan Singh) but now I think the time has come to convey a message that he is leading from the front."
The party has confirmed that Rahul will be leading a Kisan rally against the Land Acquisition Bill on April 16. Seeking to put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, the Congress is planning a massive mobilisation of farmers across the country.
While Rahul is likely to return before the second phase of the Budget Session, Singh said, "I don't know why people are so interested in knowing when he will be back. He is an SPG protectee, you should ask the Prime Minister. I was not in touch with him."
Singh reiterated that Rahul is entitled to a leave but the timing was wrong. "I want him to lead from the front. He should be more hands on. I think he has to lead his own life, at the same time today's politics is 24x7 job, and he needs to be more hands on.
He has to reach out to everyone in the party and he should take up this opportunity. All those who relate politics with power will think that he is a reluctant. But Rahul relates politics with service."
The leadership is also divided over who will lead the party as a section of leaders want Congress President Sonia Gandhi to continue while others want Rahul to take the charge.
Refuting reports of confusion within the party over the leadership, Singh said, "There is confusion only in media, there is no confusion within the party. Sonia Gandhi led a march, she's even touring the country.
The point that people are making is that Sonia Gandhi should continue so what's wrong in that. If she wants to hand over the mantle to Rahul what's wrong. There is no divide in the Congress.
We are all together and we all realise that generational change is a matter we all have to look into. Congress is a party which encourages young people. I am one of those who feel he should be given a chance to become the president."
Vouching for Rahul to lead the party from the front, Singh said, "Rahul is a person who can push when it comes to decisions but he doesn't want to antagonise anyone. But his fundamentals are correct. It's not correct to say that Rahul doesn't listen to anyone.
Every power centre has a coterie. But he doesn't impose decisions. I strongly feel this country wants to know what Rahul stands for, I always say he should be heard more, seen more whether he is pro poor or his views on environment or industry."
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