Rahul is my boss too: Sonia sends message to party
NEW DELHI: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday asserted that Rahul Gandhi was her boss too, sending a clear message to senior members of her party that there was only one decision maker now in the Congress.
Sonia also indicated that she would continue to be the Congress parliamentary party (CPP) chairperson, in a break from tradition in a party where, for at least the past four decades, the party president has doubled up as the CPP chair.
“We have elected a new Congress president and on your behalf and on my own, I wish him all the very best. He is now my boss too — let there be no doubt about that,” she said, addressing a meet of party MPS.
“I know that all of you will work with him with the same dedication, loyalty and enthusiasm as you did with me.”
“This was a clear message to senior leaders that now you have to rally around Rahul. He is the decision-maker,” said Delhi-based political analyst Bhaskar Rao.
Sonia served as the Congress chief for a record 19 years before handing over the reins of the party to her son Rahul on December 16 last year.
The former Congress president also sought to put an end to the talk of her retirement.
“As for myself, as chairperson of the Congress parliamentary party, I will work with the Congress president and other colleagues in discussions with like-minded, political parties to ensure that in the next election, the BJP is defeated...,” she said.
There was intense speculation about Sonia’s role after her “retirement” remarks in December.
“My role now is to retire,” she had said when asked about her involvement in the Congress after Rahul took over as the party chief .
The Congress had then promptly clarified that Sonia was not retiring from active politics.
Given her statement today, it could well be that she manages the Congress’ relationship with other parties.
CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury recently called Gandhi the “glue” that bound the Congress as well as the opposition.