Sonia Gandhi has chosen Gulbarga MP Mallikarjuna Kharge to lead the Congress in the Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi who won at Amethi with a comfortable majority beating glamorous Smriti Irani of the BJP has expressed his unwillingness to conduct Congress affairs in the Lower House. He has instead decided to strengthen the party’s atrophied organizational base and energize the demoralized rank and file. It is not clear whether taking charge of the Congress in the Lok Sabha would have clashed with his mission or not. But to devote himself entirely to the party outside parliament will certainly help him more in accomplishing his work. Kharge, a dalit leader, is a Gandhi family loyalist but a lightweight in the party. The names of Kamal Nath and Veerappa Moily were suggested but they might not be loyal to the party president. Besides, a majority of 17 from Karnataka and Kerala in the party’s 44 MPs did only make it in the fitness of things that the leader should come from the South.
Sonia Gandhi had said on her becoming president of the Congress that the party should set its house in order first and foremost. Rahul had previously refused to be the Congress Prime Ministerial candidate. Poll results do not signify so much. Even Indira Gandhi was defeated in 1977. There is no doubt that Rahul showed exemplary commitment to political honesty even at the cost of the strength of the UPA II. Corruption is the bane of the Congress. Rahul Gandhi at the very end of the UPA II tried to push through three anti-graft bills but failed. His refusal to be the leader may also be seen as a non-dynastic attitude. He has many years to go and if he thinks he needs grooming, let it be so.
