‘Rahul can take over as Cong head; Priyanka will be a great asset’

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh’s assertion on Wednesday about Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s wish to pass over the baton to her son and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi added substance to reports about his takeover of the Grand Old Party shortly.

Sources said an organisational overhaul is in the offing with Rahul phasing out a number of general secretaries and State presidents to appoint younger leaders.

After his taking over as Congress president, the party is expected to debate the roadmap ahead and revival strategies in what is being termed as a Chintan Shivir .

Meanwhile, the Congress headquarters here was abuzz with Amarinder’s allusions to Rahul as party leader, and his sister Priyanka Vadra as a “great asset” to the party.

“Sonia Gandhi is a brilliant leader. I have said that she has been working (as Congress president) for the last 20 years. If she feels that the time has come to give it to the new generation, then she should pass it on and we will fully support Rahul (to take over),” he said at a press conference in Chandigarh.

“Look, she has not talked to me (on the issue),” he added. “But what we are coming to know is that she is now feeling that the time has come for a new generation (to take over), which everyone today is saying. Seventy per cent of India’s population is under the age of 40. She also knows this. Maybe she feels she would like to hand it over to the new generation. I think there is nothing wrong in it.”

Asked if Rahul could take over this month itself, Amarinder said: “I do not know this. If Sonia wants to hand it over to Rahul ji, I think everybody will support it.”

About Sonia, he said: “She has worked really hard. Let me tell you the amount of work she has put in since 1997 — it is amazing”.

“Her way of work has been very intensive. Now, if she is feeling that the time has come for her to hand over the baton to somebody else, then we must honour what she wants. I think we have gained so much from her over the past 20 years that if she herself wants to leave, then we must honour what she wants,” he said.

Brilliant leader “I have been interacting with Rahul as vice-president,” said Amarinder. “Executive decisions are being taken by him. I find him very perceptive, he asks pertinent questions and he agrees with what you say if he feels it is right.”

“Sonia is a brilliant leader, but you know we have to give (pause). Why am I wanting to quit (fighting 2017 as last his elections)? Because I think enough is enough. I think the new generation has emerged and the baton should be passed on to the new generation,” he said.

“Similarly, I think Soniaji wants to do the same. Nobody is asking her to hand over (the baton). It is her own thinking that she would like Rahul to take over. And that of course when the matter is put before the party, I am sure we will all endorse Rahul,” he said.

When asked what about Priyanka, he said: “I hope she will come into (active politics). I have always suggested that she must come into this thing. She will be a great asset to the Congress president and vice-president.”

Meghalaya alarm Meanwhile, media reports said that leaders of the ruling Congress in Meghalaya have sent a letter to Sonia and Rahul, expressing alarm over the BJP “camping in Shillong”.

The BJP may be out to cause trouble for the Meghalaya government, they said. Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the State.

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