Even as the ruling BJP is already preparing for 2019 polls on war footing, the Opposition Congress has made a drastic change in strategies and brought in its President Sonia Gandhi to the forefront again, pushing Rahul Gandhi to the back seat. A popular English Channel telecast a news to this effect quoting sources at the Party, reported Kannada Prabha.
This comes as a surprise when the news of Rahul Gandhi being selected as the Party president and leading the campaign was doing the rounds. It is said that Sonia Gandhi decided to step in the wake of recent poll results of the five states, increasing Modi’s fame, the differences in the poll situation between 2014 and 2019 and Rahul Gandhi not exhibiting maturity in political matters. It is also said that along with Sonia, the senior leaders who used to plan poll strategies earlier are also coming into frontline again.
In the 2014 elections Modi was not as strong a force as he is now. Congress was a strong Party across the country. In recent times, local parties are emerging as new forces. Congress is anxious that handing over the leadership to young and inexperienced Rahul Gandhi and his young team would prove difficult to counter the strong opposition. Also NCP leader Sharad Pawar has already expressed his inability to work with Rahul Gandhi. This is also said to be a major reason for Sonia Gandhi changing her strategy.
Sonia Gandhi has an image that commands respect from other parties because of her experience in politics, seniority and charisma. That is what makes Mayawati, Mulayam, Mamata Banerjee and JD(U) leaders run to her at one phone call from her. At the recent meeting Sonia called to decide the candidate for President, leaders from 18 parties were in full attendance. Rahul is yet to acquire such charisma, it is said.
The Modi wave is sweeping the nation and Congress going at it alone is not feasible. Alliance is inevitable for Congress and the other parties have more trust in Sonia rather than Rahul. Rahul cannot get all parties to come together. Considering all these aspects Sonia Gandhi has decided to take charge along with senior leaders, according to News-18 channel quoting sources, reported Kannada Prabha.