<p>Not only Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid, but many allies of the ruling UPA at the Centre also believe that it is high time for Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to lead from the front, if he wants to check the “sagging popularity” of Congress and redeem its bleak chances of coming back to power in 2014.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A senior leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said Rahul has to come forward and take “bigger responsibilities”, which has become essential for his and Congress’ survival in the present scenario.<br /><br />“If elections are to be held at this time, it will be difficult for the Congress to reach even the figure of 150 MPs in Lok Sabha. So, I feel that it is necessary for Rahul’s personal survival in politics and that of his party that he takes the reins in his hands,” the senior NCP leader told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />Asked if Rahul will be able to revive Congress’ plummeting popularity amid charges of widespread corruption on Congress leaders and inability of the party-led UPA government to check inflation, the leader said: “This is the biggest challenge for him and to prove that he has the mettle to bring the party out of this mess, Rahul has to play bigger role.” The leader further asserted that “it is only the mass appeal of Gandhi family across the country that can help the Congress to regain people’s faith and Rahul has to cash in on that, but for that he has to accept and play that role”.<br /><br />Party chief of another UPA ally from South India said that “time has come for Rahul to play bigger role not only in his party, but also in the government”. The leader of the party further asserted that “if the Congress wants the coalition intact to contest 2014 Lok Sabha elections and perform better, a member of the Gandhi family (Rahul) will have to lead”.</p>
<p>Not only Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid, but many allies of the ruling UPA at the Centre also believe that it is high time for Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to lead from the front, if he wants to check the “sagging popularity” of Congress and redeem its bleak chances of coming back to power in 2014.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A senior leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said Rahul has to come forward and take “bigger responsibilities”, which has become essential for his and Congress’ survival in the present scenario.<br /><br />“If elections are to be held at this time, it will be difficult for the Congress to reach even the figure of 150 MPs in Lok Sabha. So, I feel that it is necessary for Rahul’s personal survival in politics and that of his party that he takes the reins in his hands,” the senior NCP leader told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />Asked if Rahul will be able to revive Congress’ plummeting popularity amid charges of widespread corruption on Congress leaders and inability of the party-led UPA government to check inflation, the leader said: “This is the biggest challenge for him and to prove that he has the mettle to bring the party out of this mess, Rahul has to play bigger role.” The leader further asserted that “it is only the mass appeal of Gandhi family across the country that can help the Congress to regain people’s faith and Rahul has to cash in on that, but for that he has to accept and play that role”.<br /><br />Party chief of another UPA ally from South India said that “time has come for Rahul to play bigger role not only in his party, but also in the government”. The leader of the party further asserted that “if the Congress wants the coalition intact to contest 2014 Lok Sabha elections and perform better, a member of the Gandhi family (Rahul) will have to lead”.</p>
