CWC to meet on August 28 amid buzz of Ashok Gehlot getting top job | India News

NEW DELHI: A meeting of the Congress Working Committee has been convened on August 28 to decide on a schedule for the election to the party president’s post, amid growing buzz that Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot may be picked for the top job in the wake of Rahul Gandhi’s reluctance to assume responsibility.
For the third day running, Gehlot parried queries that he was being tapped for the role, adding that he was focused on his twin responsibilities as the CM and election strategist for the Gujarat polls. He, however, conceded that the final choice was a suspense, adding that he was a “disciplined soldier” of the party and would do as directed by the leadership.

Gehlot met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday before leaving for Gujarat, and the talks set off a buzz about his possible shift from Jaipur to Delhi. But many believe the CM would want a loyalist as his successor in Jaipur if he were to accept the national assignment — a condition that may complicate the issue given the factional problems in Rajasthan.

After days of dilly-dallying, Congress on Wednesday announced that the CWC would be held online on Sunday, and chaired by Sonia who, along with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has gone for an annual medical checkup overseas.
While the CWC meeting would calm some nerves among cadres and regional leaders unable to wrap their minds around the prolonged leadership deadlock, the uncertainty over the eventual choice remains a source of anxiety. Gehlot had told reporters in Delhi that the party would try till the end to persuade Rahul to retake the reins of the party.
Otherwise, a possible alternative could be Sonia continuing in the top post with some “working presidents” to aid her, sources said. The proposal is being discussed in the party, a senior leader claimed. Priyanka would have been a natural choice but for that Rahul would have to drop his veto on a Gandhi family member holding that office.
Besides Gehlot, the names of Mukul Wasnik, Meira Kumar, KC Venugopal, Kumari Selja and Sushil Kumar Shinde are also doing the rounds. Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh are also said to be in the reckoning.
Meanwhile, the dissident group G23 is keeping a close watch on the internal polls. Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma, who are both members of the CWC, have made headlines by resigning from organisational posts in the last fortnight. A dissident member said the group may field a candidate in case of an election, or may send another letter to express their reservations.