MUKUL WASNIK, THE DARK HORSE?

These days, the Congress is doing what it is best at—no, not opposing but speculating as to who will be the next Congress chief. Will Rahul Gandhi take the onus or will stick to his plans of appointing a non Gandhi (as he had stated last year)? The publication of a recent book on Gen Next leaders carrying an interview with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has only added to the speculation that this is on the cards, only there is a catch. According to party sources, this interview is not a recent one and could date back to last year, during the gap when Rahul had resigned and Sonia Gandhi had not yet taken charge. A lot has changed since then and this includes a more pro-active Rahul, as well as the positioning of some of his key aides in positions of power. This includes Ajay Maken’s elevation as party general secretary, Rajasthan, the return of Sachin Pilot orchestrated by Rahul and Priyanka, and others such as K.C. Venugopal, Sushmita Dev, Randeep Surjewala, Rajeev Satav getting more vocal at party fora, while Jitin Prasada has launched an ambitious plan to bring back the Brahmin vote in UP. All this is very well, but what if Rahul decides he needs to appoint a proxy? Who would he choose? It seems in this race, Mukul Wasnik is emerging as the front runner. He is a former IYC President and so is not someone who has had positions handed to him on a platter, is not overtly confrontationist or ambitious to be a threat to either the Old or the Young Guard. In fact, being middle aged (politically speaking) he neatly fits into the middle path that appeases all and threatens none. Well, that’s a criterion by itself.