Rahul Gandhi to lead party across the country: Congress

New Delhi

Congress today virtually dismissed reports that Rahul Gandhi would be projected as the party’s CM candidate in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, stating that he is the leader of Congress all over the country.

“All discussions with regard to Uttar Pradesh will be done by Congress Working Committee and the leadership. The Congress Vice President, along with the Congress President leads the party all over the country,” party spokesman Jyotiraditya Scindia told reporters.

Asking speculators “not to make any hasty judgement”, he said the strategy for Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly polls are due next year, would be decided soon.

Scindia was reacting to reports of party poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s suggestion that Rahul Gandhi be made Congress’ face in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Yesterday, party spokesman Jairam Ramesh had said that Congress expected Rahul to take over as party chief during the current year.

As per party sources, there are likely to be changes in the Uttar Pradesh Congress this month. Nirmal Khatri is the PCC chief while Pradip Mathur is the CLP leader.

Congress has been in political wilderness in Uttar Prdaesh since 1989, which saw the emergence of Mayawati-led BSP and rise of issues like ‘Mandir and Mandal’. The party has been reduced to a marginal force in the state where it was in power for a long time after independence.

According to sources, Rahul Gandhi’s supporters are pitching for his takeover as party chief sooner than later.

He was made the party Vice President at the Jaipur Chintan shivir in January 2013. PTI