Sonia Gandhi rallies in Amethi, as party members guess about Rahul's disappearance

NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi's statement in Amethi on Saturday that Rahul Gandhi "will be back soon" from his lingering "sabbatical" triggered another round of speculation about the timing of his imminent anointment as Congress president. A news agency on Sunday put out a report, 'Rahul to be named to top Congress post in May?'.
But many party leaders, having burnt their fingers on speculating on the timing of Gandhi's return, from "five days" to "two weeks" to "in the proximate future" ,chose to play safe on the timing of his "homecoming" while maintaining that his elevation as party chief is just a matter of time. A decision on it could be taken by mid-April, said a senior leader.

"All that we have been told is that Rahulji will be back soon, may be as early as next week. No final date is clear yet," said the leader, even as this is affecting the party's plans to fix the date for a rally in Delhi against the land Bill.

As far as the timing of his anointment is concerned, the leader added, "Though the organisational elections are starting from May, technically, the timing of making Rahul party president can be decided anytime between Sonia and the CWC (Congress Working Committee). The party constitution empowers a CWC meeting to straight away elect a new party president (as Sonia was made party chief 17 years ago) or by calling an All India Congress Committee session for that purpose."

Congress members said it was the growing sense of discomfort among the leaders and a sense of drift in the party due to the extended "sabbatical" that prompted Sonia Gandhi to become overactive during the past fortnight.