Don't be fooled, Rahul's 'crowning' is just a Vadra diversion

Just a day after news broke about Robert Vadra's alleged dealings with arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari in 2009, we see yet another example of the Congress' precision 'leaking' of information. This is a classic diversionary tactic of the party's old hands.  

The latest news, as per 'sources', is that Rahul Gandhi shall 'soon' be elevated to the post of party president, taking over from his mother in a smooth and long-awaited succession. 

Officially, the reports doing the rounds indicate that the move is an attempt to rejuvenate the party, which failed to put up an impressive show in the polls in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. 

But when is this hallowed change going to happen? While some reports suggest Rahul would be crowned in the next Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet, some reports vaguely put it in next few weeks.

Keep in mind, Rahul Gandhi cannot instantly transform into the Congress' party president. Not only does he lack the political know-how, but years of almost terminal decline in electoral fortunes have made even the party's faithful wary of their crown prince. 

Revolts in the states, either by Congress regional leaders or Congress allies, are routine, and plenty of them have openly declared Rahul's actions to be the cause. Whether it is the strange Uttar Pradesh campaign in 2014, which left almost no one happy and resulted in virtual wipe-out, or the more recent revolt in Assam by Himanta Biswa Sarma - Rahul's choices have given rise to plenty of discontents. 

How happy will they be when he becomes the last word for the Congress? 

And what about the current last word - Sonia Gandhi? The matriarch of the Congress party cannot just fade away into the night, retiring into a quiet 'vanvaas'. 

Whether in the open or behind closed doors, she will be running the show for the foreseeable future. Since that much is obvious, why bother with the 'elevation' of the junior version in any case? 

Of course, these are only rumours. There is no official confirmation about such a change. The party is yet to fix a date for the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet, the highest decision-making body within the party.