<p>The biggest takeaway for the Congress from the Budget session of Parliament was a vocal Rahul Gandhi. <br /><br />However, a section of the party leaders contend that the outfit would stand to gain if he extends the same enthusiasm to the organisation.<br /><br />Reeling under successive electoral losses, senior party leaders feel that Rahul should interact more with district presidents and functionaries who visit the capital.</p>.<p>“Congress president Sonia Gandhi meets party workers regularly, but it is still difficult to get an appointment with the vice president,” a Congress Working Committee member said.</p>.<p>The 44-year-old leader faced flak from within the party and became a butt of ridicule by detractors for his mysterious 56-day sabbatical that was announced on the eve of the Budget session.<br /><br />Since his return from “leave of absence”, Rahul’s complete turnaround has come as a pleasant surprise for the Congress and for the ruling BJP. <br /><br />Rahul’s lack of interest in Parliament–he had spoken only thrice in his two terms as MP–had earned him the sobriquet of the “reluctant prince”. <br /><br />Five strong interventions in the Lok Sabha in the last three weeks, travelling by train to meet farmers in Punjab and padayatras in Maharashtra and Telangana have brought a new sense of optimism in the Congress but skeptics within the party believe the euphoria was yet to reflect in the organisation.</p>.<p>“We are getting space in the media, but ground realities are different. Rahul should begin frequent interactions with the party cadre. It sends a positive message to the organisation and lifts the morale of the workers,” another leader said.</p>
<p>The biggest takeaway for the Congress from the Budget session of Parliament was a vocal Rahul Gandhi. <br /><br />However, a section of the party leaders contend that the outfit would stand to gain if he extends the same enthusiasm to the organisation.<br /><br />Reeling under successive electoral losses, senior party leaders feel that Rahul should interact more with district presidents and functionaries who visit the capital.</p>.<p>“Congress president Sonia Gandhi meets party workers regularly, but it is still difficult to get an appointment with the vice president,” a Congress Working Committee member said.</p>.<p>The 44-year-old leader faced flak from within the party and became a butt of ridicule by detractors for his mysterious 56-day sabbatical that was announced on the eve of the Budget session.<br /><br />Since his return from “leave of absence”, Rahul’s complete turnaround has come as a pleasant surprise for the Congress and for the ruling BJP. <br /><br />Rahul’s lack of interest in Parliament–he had spoken only thrice in his two terms as MP–had earned him the sobriquet of the “reluctant prince”. <br /><br />Five strong interventions in the Lok Sabha in the last three weeks, travelling by train to meet farmers in Punjab and padayatras in Maharashtra and Telangana have brought a new sense of optimism in the Congress but skeptics within the party believe the euphoria was yet to reflect in the organisation.</p>.<p>“We are getting space in the media, but ground realities are different. Rahul should begin frequent interactions with the party cadre. It sends a positive message to the organisation and lifts the morale of the workers,” another leader said.</p>
