New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi could take over as the president of the Congress party soon after Diwali this year, party MP Sachin Pilot said on Sunday in an interview with a leading news agency.
Pilot told the news agency that “there is a general sentiment” in Congress that Rahul Gandhi “should take over as the party president”. Pilot’s comments were in line with previous reports of Gandhi taking over sometime in October.
“Organisational elections of the Congress are underway and the new president could take over shortly after Diwali. It is something that has been in the pipeline for a long time,” Pilot, considered to be close to Rahul Gandhi, said.
Pilot went on to say the Congress believed that Rahul becoming president “should happen in due course and the time has come for it to happen”.
Rahul is currently the vice-president of the Congress party, and his elevation as president, replacing mother Sonia, has been long speculated.
During his recent tour to the United States, Rahul had said that he was willing to take over as Congress president while noting that it is decision the Grand Old Party has to make.
Interestingly, during the same US tour, Rahul, who comes from a family of prime ministers, had spoken about the prevalence of dynasties in Indian politics.
Sachin Pilot, a Congress Member of Parliament from Rajasthan, touched upon the issue in his interview. Pilot said, “Belonging to a family that has been in politics should not be treated as a disqualification.”
A leader’s performance ultimately decided his/her worth, Pilot, the son of late Union minister and Congress heavyweight Rajesh Pilot. “If you perform and win the hearts of people through work, delivery and performance, then it will decide. The mere last name will only take you so far.”
Pitlot also brushed aside criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party that the Congress was promoting dynasties. “The BJP should introspect. Many of their leaders are also from political families, he said.
Pilot was also asked whether Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul’s sister, should join politics. The Rajasthan Congress leader replied saying that is “her personal decision”.
