Here Comes The Son?

HYDERABAD

Among the most prominent banners and posters welcoming Congress delegates toHyderabad are those depicting a dimpled Rahul Gandhi: Indeed, the Congressleadership is hoping that the expected unofficial coronation of Rahul Gandhi asthe successor at the Congress’s 82nd three day plenary session, whichstarted here today, will be the "feel good factor" that will override anynegative message emanating from the political developments in Karnataka, therecent Quattrocchi affair, Volckergate or its poor showing in the recentassembly elections in Bihar. A former chief minister and senior partyfunctionary said: "The message of this session will be Rahul Gandhi."

A sampling of the posters says it all – " Star of the new generation","Gandhi to Gandhi"," Nayi Soch , Nayi Raha, Nayi Disha" ( New thinking,a new road, a new direction), Aapka netratav, Hamara sobhagya ( Your leadership,our good fortune),. But the one that topped all these was the one thatadjectivised the letters of his name thus: "R for reformist, A foraccomplished, H for honest, U for upcoming and L for leadership."

Little wonder that a young MP said, "It’s no longer a demand for Rahul.It’s a chorus." A chorus that has been kickstarted by another young MP,Jitin Prasad, who has written a letter to UPCC chief Salman Khurshid asking himto convey to the Congress leadership the demand for his elevation. In his letterto Khurshid, Prasada said he has travelled all over UP extensively since thelast Lok Sabha polls and has come across a large section of Congress workers,voters and well-wishers, who wanted him to persuade Rahul Gandhi to involvehimself more actively to mobilise party colleagues across the country.

Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhiarrived in Hyderabad today, Rahul Gandhi is expected only on Sunday, January 22.A party MLA from Uttar Pradesh said, " The talk is all about Rahul Gandhi thistime—in fact, that is why so many Congressmen have arrived from across thecountry. They want to be able to say that they were there to shake Rahul’shand when he was coronated."

However, while the unofficial coronation is on the cards, it is still notknown whether he will be named to the CWC and given new responsibilities at thisstage or after the session. But certainly the ground will be prepared atHyderabad for the elevation.

Meanwhile, for the Congress, the collapse of its coalition government inKarnataka could not have come at a worse moment, underlining as it does theparty’s fundamental discomfort with coalition politics. But, a CongressWorking Committee member stressed that even though former Prime Minister HD DeveGowda and his Janata Dal-S is being pilloried by Congressmen, the party will notallow this to cast a shadow on the plenary session.

Indeed, a senior Congress functionary – and a member of the committee thatdrafted the resolutions -- underlined the fact that the political resolution,which was being discussed by the CWC today, would not in any way criticize anyUPA partner: "We don’t want to rub any coalition partner the wrong way –the coalition is in place and it will stay that way. It is not possible topredict what the delegates will say in the open sessions, but care has beentaken to ensure that officially, the problem with partners will not bereflected."

Instead, the party’s success in running coalition governments in statessuch as Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra will be stressed to highlightthe Congress’s commitment to the coalition dharma, a CWC member said.

The necessity of building the party organisation in states where it was oncestrong but where it has a marginal presence now will be delinked to thecoalition issue, senior party sources said: So, for instance, the politicalresolution will say that the party is very weak in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar andneeds to build itself in those states, without commenting on any existing orproposed partners here. The party is well aware that while it needs to regainall its old constituencies, it is not in a position currently to be critical ofany of its allies, if it is to preserve its government at the Centre.

This is reflected in the slogan for the session: :"Ateet Ki Neev,Bhavishya Ka Nirman Aur Nayee Jimmedari (Foundation of the past, building thefuture and new responsibilities)". It may be awkwardly worded but itreflects the sentiment of the leadership -- that the Congress cannot afford to sendout a negative message on the issue of alliances as that would be suicidal for aparty which has returned to power after eight years in the wilderness.