Sonia likely to be chief patron of Cong

NEW DELHI: CPI(M) LEADER SITARAM YECHURY RECENTLY CALLED SONIA THE ‘GLUE’ THAT BINDS

THE CONGRESS

The anointment of Rahul Gandhi as the Congress presidentwillheraldanewerain the 131-year-old party and also draw the curtains on more than 19 years of interrupted tenure of Sonia Gandhi.

However, Congress sources said Sonia, who turns 71 on December 9, will continue to guide the party albeit in a different role.

A binding force for the Congressandknownforherabilityto build alliances, Sonia could take theroleofitschiefpatronorhead the Congress Parliamentary Party.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury recently called Sonia the “glue” that binds the Congress as well as the opposition. He also credited her with playing a critical role in the formation of the UPA in 2004.

Sonia also played a key role in bringing 18 opposition parties together for this year’s presidential and vice-presidential polls. Herstandonthelandacquisition billin2015forcedthegovernment to withdraw the controversial ordinance and shelve the idea of bringing a new legislation.

However, Rahul’s elevation will put an end to criticism that theCongresswasfallinginconfusion between the two power centres though party leaders had maintainedthatthecombination of mature and youthful leadership was an ideal solution that had put them in a comfortable position.

Such an agreement existed in the Congress earlier also, they said and cited the example of Rajiv Gandhi who served as a general secretary for four years when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister and Congress president from 1980 to 84.

For the past two years, Sonia had taken a back seat and the party was virtually managed by the47-yearRahulwhoclearedall appointmentsinstatesaswell as the national level. She has also stayed away from the party’s election campaign this year.

Congress leaders indicated that Sonia is unlikely to seek re-electionfromRaeBareliinthe 2019 Lok Sabha polls.