MillenniumPost
Nation

Rahul Gandhi likely to lead Congress in LS

New Delhi: Even though the suspense over the continuance of Congress president post by Rahul Gandhi still persists, it is learnt that Rahul may lead the party lawmakers in the Lok Sabha to counter the perception that he is running away from the fight.

Earlier, the Congress party was led by its leader Mallikarjun Kharge, when the party was having just 44 MPs in the Lower House.

According to sources, most of the newly elected lawmakers have urged re-elected Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi to declare Rahul as party leader in the Lok Sabha to lead 52 MPs in raising all the pertinent issues to corner the government.

Sonia Gandhi was unanimously re-elected as CPP chairperson by the party's MPs from both Houses of Parliament on June 1 and as per the constitution of the party, it's the CPP chairperson who is authorised to name the Leaders of the Congress in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

In the Rajya Sabha, senior Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad is the leader of the party, while Rahul may be asked to lead the party MPs in Lok Sabha. Notably, the CPP chairperson has not yet taken any decision on the party's leader in Lok Sabha.

"It's clear that Rahul would be asked to lead the party as he has been cornering the government over several important issues related to public concern," the sources said, adding that Rahul hasn't rejected the request and has told us to be prepared with issues that the party can raise in the House to corner the government.

Given that Rahul during his address to the CPP on June 1 had made it clear that even though the party has 52 MPs, it was ready to play a strong opposition role in the Lok Sabha. Congress lawmaker can 'make the BJP jump' if the right issues are raised effectively and that the grand old party won't allow the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a walkover in Parliament, Rahul had said.

Even Sonia Gandhi during her address had heaped high praise on Rahul's steering of the party and said that "emotional messages are coming from all corners, vindicating his leadership." Soon after the results of the Lok Sabha polls were declared on May 23, Rahul had told the Congress Working Committee (CWC) that he no longer wants to lead the party and had asked his close aides to start looking for a non-Gandhi for the next party chief.

However, the CWC had unanimously rejected the resignation and authorised Rahul to completely restructure the party organisation, but Rahul had remained adamant on stepping down.

Next Story
Share it