Time's up for Sonia: Rahul Gandhi to take over as Congress president in 2 weeks

Following a “strong comeback” and two ‘impressive, hard hitting’ speeches – one at Ramlila ground on Sunday at the farmers’ rally and the other in the Lok Sabha on Monday against NDA government’s Land Bill — the Congress is all set to elevate its vice president Rahul Gandhi to the party’s top job. He, according to sources, will be anointed to the top job in a matter of weeks and Sonia Gandhi would play the role of the party’s guiding force with her close aides and senior leaders through a supreme body to be finalised later. [caption id=“attachment_2206538” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Rahul Gandhi with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at the recently-held Kisan Rally. Image courtesy: Naresh Sharma[/caption] “Rahul_ji_ will be anointed the party president in a week or two or latest by 10 May. A major reshuffle is on the card in which several general secretaries will be replaced with youth leaders. Many new faces from NSUI (Congress’ student wing) and grassroots leaders from different states will be inducted in key positions in the AICC (All India Congress Committee),” sources close to ongoing developments told Firstpost. They said the move is aimed at “revamping” the party so that it can regain its “lost leadership and strong hold” across the country by raising issues of people concern across the country with the help of “new energy”. The Congress is also forming a group which will be assigned the task of revamping the image of the party’s youth icon ahead of state elections and monitoring government’s policies so that it can be cornered, the sources said. They also said Rahul would change his style of functioning and follow Sonia Gandhi’s advice to keep senior leaders in the loop. The Gandhi scion had left his party embarrassed when he skipped the crucial Budget Session of Parliament to go on a mysterious sabbatical. But party insiders say it was party of the plan to re-launch their leader. When asked about the possible role of senior leaders, they added, “Our party respects all our leaders. They are like gems. Those who will be replaced will be guiding us on policy matters. They are integral part of the party.” “The party has decided to launch a nationwide campaign under the leadership of Rahul_ji_ and the new leaders will work with him shoulder to shoulder,” said a senior leader of the party. With a “very successful” farmers’ rally at Ramlila ground in the national capital against the NDA government’s Land Bill and a power packed speech of Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha on Monday, Congress appears to have made it clear that it is hell bent not to let the controversial Land Acquisition ordinance become a law. The Grand Old Party is also likely to launch padyatra (foot march) to states like Punjab and Madhya Pradesh to gauge the mood of the farming community which is facing problems due to unseasonal rainfall. He will also meet and gather feedback from Congress leaders in the two states, the sources said. Rahul is also planning to visit his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh on Friday in view of the posters put up there recently which showed him missing.