NEW DELHI: After an unexpected performance by the Congress party in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, a section of senior leaders are expecting a change of guard in which, leaders heading important positions in the organisation could be replaced.
Although there is a buzz of replacement of the current General Secretary Media Jairam Ramesh, party insiders indicate that leaders holding other key positions at the AICC can also be replaced, including General Secretary Organisation K.C. Venugopal. A senior office bearer at the AICC said, “There may be some changes, they will do here and there with the existing general secretaries or replace a few general secretaries.”
Congress leaders close to Ramesh say that he wants to quit the position because of unknown reasons. However, other leaders think that there is no political leader who wants to quit a powerful organisational position on his own and reduce oneself to the position of a subordinate. Thus, a theory indicates that Rahul Gandhi may have expressed his willingness to make changes in important positions of the organisation which prompted leaders associated with Ramesh to give the crucial replacement a softer shape, to preserve Ramesh’s decorum.
However, a senior Congress leader said, “A political party is always in a flux. The changes are normal. When there are regular changes, it ensures that the hopes among aspiring leaders remain alive as they expect to get responsibilities. It also makes sure that one person does not accumulate a lot of power and the organisation does not become lopsided. So the changes become necessary.”
There are speculations within the party that Rahul Gandhi is looking for a leader who is suitable for the role of General Secretary Media and can replace Ramesh. A Congress leader said, “The new placement of leaders will depend precisely on who Rahul Gandhi wants. The earlier crop of leaders he had given important responsibilities to, deserted him in crucial low of his politics. He must have been wary of handing over powerful position to leaders before Lok Sabha elections. However, now, Rahul has become more powerful than before and whosoever he chooses is expected to shape oneself as per his instructions.”
Another name doing rounds in backrooms of the Congress headquarters is of Gaurav Gogoi who is said to be pursuing a position at the AICC. According to a party insider, “The feast Jairam Ramesh held for journalists after the Lok Sabha elections recently, was considered to be his goodbye feast. Rahul Gandhi attended the feast, while as the only other Lok Sabha member present at the feast was Gaurav Gogoi.”
Congress figurehead Rahul Gandhi, according to leaders, may not have locked in onto particular names who could head senior positions in the party. However, there are other leaders who consider the rejig as mere speculations by advancing the argument of “better performance” of the party due to the existing leaders, in the Lok Sabha elections. A senior leader said, “The party has been running with the idea of delaying and “carry on” approach, which at times makes one think that’s how the Congress functions. If they want to make changes it could be before the four Assembly elections to be held later this year.”