Sonia should quickly get Rahul in, says Gehlot, UP in-charge

Ahead of crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot, who is in charge of that state, has said that his party cannot afford any further delay in appointing Rahul Gandhi as party general secretary.

Ahead of crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot, who is in charge of that state, has said that his party cannot afford any further delay in appointing Rahul Gandhi as party general secretary.

“His entry is already delayed,” Gehlot told The Indian Express today. “Therefore, I request Soniaji to act fast and make him general secretary in charge of frontal organizations.” These organizations include Youth Congress, Sewa Dal, Mahila Congress, students’ wing NSUI and the labour union INTUC.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) has agreed to campaign in UP and this is the right time for his formal entry into the party,” Gehlot said. “Rahul’s entry will give the much-needed momentum to the UP Congress as it braces for the Assembly elections.”

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According to Gehlot, putting Rahul in charge of frontal organizations will get him access party units in all states. “He can interact with all state units and vice-versa. He can legitimately interact with Chief Ministers and PCC chiefs if he were to take up this position,” Gehlot said.

The general secretary said the Congress hopes to emerge as the alternative for SP before the voters. “In UP, everyone wants to defeat the Samajwadi Party. Our aim is to emerge as the principal contender of SP, in as many constituencies as possible. There cannot be a government in UP without our support or participation,” Gehlot said.

The Congress leader said Mulayam Singh Yadav outburst on Thursday against UP governor betrayed his insecurity. “The governor should review the situation and decide if Central rule is required in UP. Mulayam has reduced governance to goondagiri and elections to booth-capturing,” Gehlot said.

Gehlot did not rule out Congress entering into an alliance with other parties even as union minister Oscar Fernandes and UPCC chief Salman Khursheed are speaking to RLD leader Ajit Singh.

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“We are preparing to contest all seats in UP but in politics nothing can be ruled out,” he said on the possibility of party entering into an alliance with parties other than SP, BSP and BJP.

Gehlot’s remarks come when signals about Rahul’s role are confusing. While Sonia Gandhi has always maintained that it’s for Rahul to decide, she added last week that she “would be happy to have him either in government or party.” Sonia is about to resume her UP Navnirman rallies by December end.