The leave mystery: Why Cong old guard vs Rahul Gandhi theory doesn’t wash

Nobody takes a break from politics just like that - because first of all, it’s full time, non-stop hard work unlike a 9 to 5 cosy job and once you are in it there’s no escape. Second, if you are the leader then it conveys the impression that you want to evade responsibility and have no passion for your role; third, there’s something seriously wrong with the internal dynamics of the party you lead. Rahul Gandhi’s decision to take a break during the crucial Budget session, where he was supposed to lead the party’s charge against the land ordinance of the government besides other matters, is confounding indeed. [caption id=“attachment_2118585” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] AP image[/caption] It’s unusual that Rahul going on a three-week leave would be told to the media by his office. He has been largely invisible after the general election of 2014 and it would not have mattered if he had been invisible for a few more weeks. Of course, he would have faced criticism for missing the session, but after all the flak he has taken in recent times a little more would not have mattered. What was the specific need for his office to communicate directly to a media agency, bypassing the party and its media cell? Do the Congress vice president and his group operate independently of the party? After the news spread and became headlines, surprised Congress leaders have been surreptitiously peddling the theory that he has serious issues with the obstinate old guard which has been blocking all his moves to rejuvenate the party. While he has to bear the responsibility of the electoral losses of the party, the fact is he does not have the authority to jettison the deadwood from the Congress. The party would like everyone to believe that he wants to make his point that without the control he cannot do much. The party has to make a decision on that quickly. He has put the party on notice. It does not wash. It is, at best, a diversionary tactic. It is no secret that party president Sonia Gandhi has been promoting Rahul for the top job for some time. He, in turn, has made his dislike for the old guard and its ways clear from the beginning. He has been insisting that the party has to begin afresh with new leaders and a new work ethic. After a series of humiliating poll debacles, his case for a radical change should have been stronger. By this time it should have been clear to the old guard that they don’t fit in his future plans for the party. Moreover, Rahul is not so powerless that he cannot do anything about this lot. According to the party, Rahul in his letter to the party president says he needs sometime to reflect on recent events related to the party and its future course. What exactly does he want to reflect on? Some in the party are being sarcastic about it. “Perhaps, he wants to introspect whether he should in politics in the first place,” said one, adding, “Rahul’s approach towards politics is definitely odd. You have to operate with what you have. You cannot simply demolish the whole party and rebuild it from scratch. Your workers and political opponents won’t give you that much time. It’s not that he won’t be aware of it.” The reason for the leave thus is has to be far more serious than is apparent. Nobody’s talking about it yet, but could there be serious differences in the family itself about the future roadmap of the Congress? Sonia is more of a peacemaker and would like to take all factions of the party along, Rahul is more impatient and impulsive. She is surrounded by old school politicians while he by many who have no direct link with politics on the ground. He finds many in his mother’s close circles a liability for the party. The friction between the two groups has been frequent of late. As senior leaders go public with reckless comments, indicating serious infighting, the Sonia-Rahul duo has not done much to bring harmony. Or, their efforts have fallen flat. The fact that a section of the party has already branded him a loser and is looking to Priyanka for redemption does not make matters easy for Rahul. Perhaps, his leave is meant to reflect and settle matters within. The period after the break will be crucial for the Congress.