New Cong team to have ample room for elders

Tasting victory after a series of defeats, the Congress is expected to unveil a new central team reflecting the generation shift in the party, but at the same time giving due respect to elders.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, during his meetings with party leaders, is learnt to have assured them that they, too, would have key roles to play in the organisation that is expected to undergo an overhaul.

“Some of the best talents in the Congress fall in the 60-plus category. Am I stupid to discard them,” Rahul is learnt to have asked during his interaction with party leaders. He is also understood to have laughed off Jairam Ramesh’s remarks suggesting an advisory role for leaders above the age of 60 and retirement for those over 70.

Rahul is learnt to have spoken highly about the contributions made by senior leaders A K Antony, P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, among others.

Top Congress sources indicated that the consultation process on the organisational reshuffle was more or less complete and a new team could be announced soon. They said the leadership was busy restructuring the state units first.

The sources indicated that the Congress team in Parliament may remain untouched with Mallikarjun Kharge,  Azad and Anand Sharma continuing to play their roles.

 An exception could be made for the Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Amarinder Singh, who has made a strong claim to the post of Punjab Congress president.

The sources were, however, silent on the timeline for Rahul’s elevation to the post of party president. After the Congress’ spectacular strike rate in Bihar, demands for his taking over have begun.

While AICC General Secretary C P Joshi was the first to voice the “growing demand of party workers” in the immediate aftermath of Bihar results, Amarinder Singh, too, said that the time was right for Rahul to take charge of the Congress. Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot also echoed similar views.