Rahul absence led Cong to change rally dates

Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi’s sudden and extended leave of absence has created trouble for the party, especially as it was trying to decide on a final date for a protest march against the BJP government’s new land acquisition bill.

The Opposition will now protest against the BJP- led NDA government’s bill on April 19.

The Congress was keen that Mr Gandhi to join the march as the subject is apparently close to his heart and he has been trying to change the Congress image and present it as pro- farmers.

According to sources in the Congress, the protest against the land bill was supposed to take place on March 5, but the date was postponed following Mr Gandhi’s ongoing leave.

Another date that was finalised was March 12, but that also had to be changed after Mr Gandhi extended his leave. Now, the protest will take place on April 19 and Mr Gandhi is expected to join as he is likely to be back from his leave by them.

“The Congress party wants Mr Gandhi to lead the march that’s why the dates have been changing. Now, on April 19, we are expecting that Mr Gandhi will be back to join us. The march has been getting delayed as nobody knew about his whereabouts,” said a senior Congress party leader on the request of anonymity. Mr Gandhi was expected to be in the national capital by March 10, but he extended his leave till the end of March. Mr Gandhi went on leave just before the important Budget Session and his decision created an embarrassing situation for the party and its leaders.

The social media has been buzzing about the ongoing leave of Mr Gandhi.

Senior Congress leaders have been claiming that he went on a leave to take some rest and to come up with ways to strengthen the party.

According to the sources, Mr Gandhi wanted to get the full control of the party, but his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi wasn’t ready for it.