Birthday message for Rahul Gandhi
This may sound confusing and strange, but India's biggest and oldest political party is claiming that "it's a family matter". What it means is that the high command saying that Rahul's plan for public life and a bigger role in the party are not in the Congress party's domain! Congressmen claim that only "Sonia-Rahul-Priyanka" take decisions about their relations with the party.
Even the most outspoken leaders in the Congress party don't dare to ask Sonia Gandhi about Rahul's future plans.
As reporters on the Congress beat know so well, what is good for Rahul Gandhi and what could harm his political interest cannot be debated within the party. Actually, nobody is willing to take such a risk.
The Gandhi family's "core committee" consists of only Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka and may be her husband Robert Vadra.
The example freshest in all our minds is Sonia Gandhi's resignation over the Office of Profit issue. Not even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was consulted before taking this decision, and Ahmed Patel came to know about it a few minutes before the party.
So, no one should be surprised when Mrs Gandhi springs a surprise by nominating Rahul Gandhi as AICC general secretary.
Photographs: AFP/Getty Images
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Rahul Gandhi: In the spotlight