Digvijaya Singh: Rahul should take charge of Congress from Sonia Gandhi
The leader said, that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi should continue to be mentor of the party.
Just as the Congress set the ball rolling on internal elections, party veteran Digvijaya Singh has demanded that Rahul Gandhi should take over the charge from mother and party chief Sonia Gandhi, arguing that it is time for the young leader to assume command and rejuvenate the organisation.
Digvijaya when contacted said, "Yes, I have said what I wanted to say. Rahul Gandhi should take charge. It is the feeling of Congressmen that Rahul Gandhi should take charge of the party now. Sonia Gandhi should continue in the role of overall leadership what she has been doing."
Apart from Singh, senior party leaders including Ahmed Patel, AK Antony, P Chidambaram, Ambika Soni, Ashok Gehlot, Sheila Dikshit, Veerappa Moily, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, Oscar Fernandes and Mukul Wasnik have had discussions with Rahul in the past few weeks and days.
When asked about why no one outside the family can become the party president, Singh said, "Who has stopped any leader to come forward and contest elections against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi?
On the possibility of a rejig in the party's top leadership, Singh said, "Once he takes charge, he may do that. It is up to him." After taking charge, Rahul should immediately re-assess the socio-economic policy of Congress.
However, Digvijaya Singh's statement was not welcomed by all Congress leaders.
Makhan Lal Fotedar, a senior Congress leader said, "Why should I interfere in this? According to him there is personal benefit hidden behind this. Fotedar said, "He wants to become leader himself. Such people take advantage of the party's bad time. But what such people say is not correct. Whatever he wants to say he should say on party forum."