After the latest rapid development overnight, Ashok Gehlot is behind in the Congress President election, as Mallikaarjun Kharge and Digvijay Singh these two names in presidential candidature. Despite being a Gandhi family loyalist, Congress high-command becomes upset with Gehlot after the Rajasthan crisis. As a result, it is very difficult for Gehlot to be the next president.
With a big bolt in Rajasthan Congress, It is now interesting to see an upcoming line of events. Mallikarjun Kharge and Digvijay Singh are both senior leaders and loyalists to the Gandhi family. Mallikrjun Kharge has an inclusive image as a leader of the opposition in Rajyasabha. Ex-chief minister Madhya Pradesh and senior leader of Congress Committee both stand for party candidature. Congress will sort out the Specifying norms after understanding the Pros and cons of becoming president.
Currently, Sonia Gandhi is the leading party as interim president. However, Congress wants a full-time non -Gandhi president. Rahul Gandhi is not willing to go ahead as president. He is always vocal about anti-Hindutva. Digvijay Singh is known for his controversial comments, so from that point of view, Congress can go ahead with soft Hindutva to tackle BJP, which might be a problem for Digvijay Singh.
Mallikarjun Kharge is known for his sober image and worked as a coordinator in charge of Congress for a few states. He has good contacts and relationships with party leaders and is in touch with party workers. Digvijay Singh also has good connections, but his internal rivalry in Madhya Pradesh will be a hurdle. The situation is changed in Madhya Pradesh.
Initially, Madhya Pradesh was a stronghold for Congress before BJP leader and CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s tenure as chief minister. Even Congress played well in the last assembly elections. Senior leader Kamalnath had become Chief Minister of MP but after rebelling by the Jyotiraditya Sindhia camp situation changed in MP.
Digvijay Singh strongly appeals to the intellectual class and anti-Hindutva forces, whereas Malikarjun Kharge has an image as a professional politician. Ashok Gahlot was a Gandhi loyalist since late PM Indira Gandhi. It is an unexpected move by Gehlot for Congress leadership, turning now turf for state and national leadership.
It is a more unexpected move of Ashok Gehlot for Congress as MP Rahul Gandhi and other leaders are busy with Bharat Jodo Yatra. National General Secretary and MP K.C.Venugopal are trying to coordinate with state leadership. It is a tough call for Congress to decide at an appropriate time. With 90-92 MLA support Ashok Gehlot can dominate against the Sachin Pilot camp. It is not worth it for the party to lose both leadership in such a hard time in Congress.
Now it is delayed for Congress to elect the party president after the Rajasthan crisis. There are strong chances of Mallikarjun Kharge as Congress president in upcoming days
This opinion article written by Mohit Soman, Senior Journalist Prittle Prattle News.
(The opinion expressed in the article are personal )
