Some stalling Rahul reforms: Digvijaya

AS QUESTIONS OVER RAHUL’S ABSENCE MOUNT, CONG SENIORS SAY HE HASN’T ‘RUN AWAY’ AND THAT HE WILL RETURN TO LEAD PARTY

NEW DELHI: Even as political circles were agog with speculation about Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s whereabouts, the unease in the party came to the surface with senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh questioning the timing of his “leave” and Kamal Nath going public about “two decision-making points in one party”.

The 44-year-old politician has taken some time off to “reflect” in the wake of a string of electoral defeats and deliberate on the future course of the party, said Congress leaders.

Digvijaya Singh dismissed conjecture that Rahul “could run away” from politics and said he would return to lead the party.

“He will continue not only as an MP but he also has a larger role in the Congress at the national level,” he told Karan Thapar on Headlines Today. “There is no question of Rahul running away. I absolutely rule it out. He is made of sterner stuff. I am absolutely sure that he will not run away.”

Singh, however, said Rahul was not being allowed to function independently and “some powerful people in Delhi” were trying to stall his reform measures. “They feel they may lose the clout they enjoy today.”

While some supporters say Rahul wants to restructure the party and get rid of the old guard, analysts say his absence is a form of protest to put the veterans on notice and bring in major organisational changes.

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