Will head election co-ordination panel
Congress yuvraj Rahul Gandhi will lead the party’s campaign in the next general elections, now less than 18 months away in 2014. Or that was the import of an announcement made on Thursday by the Congress: Mr. Gandhi will head a high-power five-man Election Co-ordination Committee to “oversee all party activities related to the next elections,” a senior functionary told The Hindu.
This committee, along with three sub-groups — on pre-poll alliances, the manifesto and government programmes, and communications and publicity — general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said, was constituted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi following the announcement she made on November 9 at the Samvad Baithak at Surajkund. “With a year and half left for the Lok Sabha elections,” Ms. Gandhi said on that occasion, “both party and government will have to work cohesively together to ensure that we secure a renewed mandate.” In keeping with that assurance, of the 27 persons drafted for pre-election work, 11 are Central ministers.
While the activities listed are not unusual, this is the first time, a senior leader said, the tasks have been given “institutional shape.” And Mr. Gandhi’s de facto number two position now acquires de jure number two status, without disturbing his mother’s role as head of the party — he will have to play Arjun to his mother Krishna. From managing the youth wings, he will move to a more central task in the organisation as it heads into what is one of the toughest elections the grand old party has ever faced in its history. An effort has been made to give the party’s core team for the next elections a younger look: even then, only six of the 27 are below 50.
The other members of the Election Coordination Committee, which has already had one sitting, are Ms. Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, party general secretaries Janardan Dwivedi, Digvijay Singh and Madhusudan Mistry, and Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh. Defence Minister A.K. Antony heads the sub-groups on pre-poll alliances and manifesto and government programmes, while Mr. Digvijay Singh heads the communications and publicity sub-group.
Mr. Antony’s colleagues in the pre-poll alliances sub-group are Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily, MoS Jitendra Singh, party general secretary Mukul Wasnik, and party functionaries Suresh Pachauri and Mohan Prakash. The manifesto and government programmes sub-group is the largest: apart from Mr. Antony, Union Ministers P. Chidambaram, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Anand Sharma and Salman Khurshid, party spokespersons Sandeep Dikshit and Renuka Chowdhury, party functionary Ajit Jogi, chairman of the SC Commission P.L. Punia are members. Lastly, those in the communications sub-group, headed by Mr. Digvijay Singh, are senior party leader Ambika Soni, MoSs Manish Tewari, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Rajeev Shukla, and MPs Deependra Hooda and Bhakta Charan Das.
Keywords: 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, Congress Coordination Committee, national politics
If Rahul gandhi wants to become a PM, there is nothing wrong. As this
is democratic country anybody could be standing for the pm position.
But, only question is Rahul is worth for the PM position. What
qualities does he have to deserve for that position, he should
introspect before going to the public for votes. I don't think he has
any decent political career to be aspiring for that post. Except for
roaming with his mother and sister in elections and waving hands to
public, he doesn't have any other qualification to become a PM of
India. The country should teach him big lesson, if stands in election
and give their verdict. Let's see how the people will respond to his
charisma in coming days.
Why is Rahul compared to Arjun and Sonia to Krishna . In Mahabharata,
Both have fought for establishment of Dharma by the Pandavas against
the tyrannical rule by the sons of Dhritharashtra. If The Nava Bharat
Arjun and Krishna are going to the battlefield, then who are the ruling
Dhuryodana and Brothers? How The Hindu,with its secular credentials, has
allowed such comparisons?
I do not agree with views expressed here by people like Baikadi Suryanarayana Rao in support of Rahul Gandhi becoming Prime Minister of this Country. Rule of Kings and Queens might have become the thing of pasts, but what we have to block up in Indian democracy is its dynastic hole through which sons and daughters of political elites enter and perpetuate the same putrid claims for historical contributions of their forefathers and try to crush any voice against this looters and corruptions; pain caused by the present system and its ruling groups belong to this generation. It is must be a miracle in a democracy when a single Gandhi- Nehru family can produce 4 Prime Ministers!! Not seeing this aspect would result in helping a dead-kingship wrapped with democratic paint.
Whatever he forebodings of the election, this prominently shows the
surging youth power in India to the world.If the evils of past elections
are mindfully tackled, then people will have the governance deserved.
Good for India! Rahul will make sure UPA won't come to Power again.
BJP will be very happy with this information!
As far as my knowledge goes rule by kings,dynasties and yuvrajs is a
thing of the past in our country. Calling the present governance
system in India dynastic succession of Nehrus is an insult to the
memory of the founding fathers of our constitution like Dr.Ambedkar.
Smitha Guptha has not only been editorializing news, she also has been
referring to Rahul derisively as Yuvraj. In the event of Rahul
Gandhi’s campaign resulting in a resounding victory for the Congress
party he like any other Indian citizen has the right to become PM. It
will not be a yuvraj becoming a king.Moreover yuvraj is not an English
word and its use leaves a bad taste in the mouth.Earlier I have
written to the present as well as the previous readers editor in this
regard.
Great. Thankfully, the BJP will now have a chance!
great decision..Promotion after proving in UP and Bihar :) ..
sick of this party
Why you call him Yuvaraj? A newspaper of your repute does not need this.
Wow! An arrangement to induct directly to PM's post by back door entry. Look at China its leaders come thru rank N file. While Indians put untested leaders at the helm. Is it really a Democratic Republic OR a Banana Republic?
Congress Leadership has shown full faith in its rising Star Mr Rahul
Gandhi and made head of various committees for the coming Parliament
Elections 2014 . Will Rahul Gandhi succeed in his vision and mission
that Congress has shown faith in him ? Really the next Parliament
Elections issues will be Development , Inflation , Corruption .
The lessons that the Yuva Raja learnt from his UP debacle should
help??in this larger than UP canvas??
This is hilarious. We will assured of old fashioned comedy entertainment.
It is honest and therefore to be welcome that the "Congress yuvraj
Rahul Gandhi will lead the party’s campaign in the next general
elections". Citizens need to know the values, direction, policies,
priorities and the Leaders of a party well before an election so as to
be able to make up their mind. The party should also declare who the
PM would be, and not foist someone undeclared to the public, to this
post at the pinnacle of Indian Govt, at the last minute.
All other parties should also do the same.
good. Now we can see him drinking tea in road side tea stalls and
sharing food with dalits in villages. Other than that nothing will
happen
Brand image is one thing and converting the brand power into votes is totally another thing. Congress think-tank thinks they are one and the same. Rahul could not win an election in UP where the incumbancy factor was aginst Mayawati. In business and industry success is rewarded with more responsibilities. In congress the more you fail the better.
Giving him the task of overseeing a general election is nothing short of suicidal. The all important communication and publicity sub-group is headed by our own Digvijay Singh. His public guffaws are legendary.
This proves that if you keep praising the First Family, your star will be shining forever.
It's a pity that no one in the party has the guts to say that the king has no clothes.
In the present scenorio of no understanding amongs the opponent ieBJP,TMC,mayvathim,mulayam singh,dmk,aadmk,cpi &M,shiva sena,and stillmany smallparties, congress can take advantage and start collecting
all small parties together to form a CONGRESS UNITED FRONT RAHUL MAY ULTIMAELY WIN THE ELECTION AS WELL
This is great news. Rahul is a man of great ideas from this great dynasty who is desperately trying to cling to power, mainly because, except playing politics and thereby keeping their hand at the til, there is no way they can survive. The family members are otherwise unemployable, as they have no verifiable qualification or worthwhile work experience.
Hopefully he would have some genes of his great grandfather who unlike the modern crop of the Nehru descendant put his wealth to use for the country.
Hopefully he would work for the country populated by poor hardworking Indians
Ms. Gupta is entitled to her opinions, but I cringe at the writing of this article,
especially the use of the word "yuvraj" and the Mahabharata metaphor, "he will have
to play Arjun to his mother Krishna," which, in addition to being inappropriate
because of the religious reference, also makes no sense in this context: who is the
warrior and who is the charioteer?
This smacks of awkward editorialising. Disappointed to see this pass muster at The
Hindu
End this nonsense of nepotism, dynasty-ism and all the ism's lets have a
real independence for India and end this farce that the Congress party
has created for the last 65 years.
Now Rahul can take control of Cong (I). Also stop calling him YUVRAJ - he has not proved anything yet as a leader (may be within Cong but I cannot fathom what). If popularity and face recognition is the criteria being used then all bollywood actors should be called YUVRAJ or YUVRANI - many have done more for the people that Rahul.
Hope he does prove at least by winning elections for Cong (I) in the 12 - 18 months to come.
Rahul Jee, please head the country as soon as possible, we cant wait till 2014. There is no other leader in India who can take it in right track. we trusted your grand grand father, grand mother, father, mother and there was nothing changed since then. We will see your regime and will look forward for your son's and grand son's as well. we will know there will be no change, but still will beleive you. all this is because we dont have any other option. we know we are not fit for democracy, but we got it at wrong point of time and your family made it at right time. We still beleive you sir..
Self suicidal attempt of the congress.
Is the Congress digging its own grave ?
2014 is far away but Congress party's efforts to refurbish and rejuvenate itself in taking up the future challenges and continue to serve India further deserve appreciation.
This is welcome news. Congress will repeat the victorious performance of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh under the dynamic leadership Shri Rahul Gandhi. Regional Parties, UPA allies and Opposition will welcome this move with jubilation after Shri Rahul Gandhi's superb performance in last two years assembly elections.
All should congratulate Smt. Sonia Gandhi for her bold step in elevating his son to National Status. Let us enjoy reading accolades, praises and victorious comments on social media for next one and half years. Victory to India. Jai Hind.
Good move. Will ensure the total defeat of Congress in the 2014 polls. no extra effort is required from the opposition.
The decision taken by Congress(I) indicates that the party has not
learnt any lesson from UP elections .It also indicates that they are not
willing to learn.
GOD save the party in 2014.
Nehru family and/or Indira Gandhi family members have ruled our nation on various occasions. Now the Congress Party should at least give chance to other eligibe and able members so as to keep up the dignity of democracy. It should not be a family kingdom in ruling a democratic nation like India.
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