When the Congress party officially announced recently that Rahul Gandhi could consider a position in the Union Cabinet and also assume more responsibility in the party organisation, some in the Congress were surprised.
“He already has ministers reporting to him or briefing him. Some leading Cabinet figures owe their position to him,” noted a prominent former MP.
Over the years, Mr Gandhi has fended off Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s urgings to join the government because he thought party work more important. “And the time for this is specially important now when we need to gear ourselves for the crucial Gujarat byelection in four months’ time which can set up a platform for the Lok Sabha polls, particularly if the General Election is advanced,” say sources.
Mr Gandhi is widely seen in the Congress as having the right degree of authority, and therefore the influence, to push through decisions across party factions in states.
In the party’s perception, this should be particularly important when it comes to selecting candidates for elections and local leaders to organise and lead campaigns. These have been the party’s weak points traditionally as corruption and favouritism queer the pitch.
No less a consideration is that the Congress may have to look over the fence into the NDA’s territory for possible election-time collaborations. Some speak of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) in this context, but concede these may be early days yet to venture that far. Nevertheless, the broad point is self-evident, they say. While a government job for Mr Gandhi is seen as a waste of time and unnecessary confinement to a limited field when so much else needs doing, the view for the Nehru-Gandhi scion to succeed Pranab Mukherjee as the Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha is gathering momentum.
The 10 MPs from different states who jointly made a demand to this effect two days ago merely set the stage for a chorus that could gain steam if Mr Gandhi is seen as showing an inclination.
In any case, as for a government job, other than Indira Gandhi no one from Congress’ leading family has been a minister before going on to become Prime Minister. (Mr Gandhi will have to work hard to get there as his party and its government are seen to be on a weak wicket before the next election.)
The position of Leader of the House is seen by many in the Congress as more appropriate as it would equip him with the right kind of experience for the future.