Rahul Gandhi’s team takes position

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As the role of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi 'expands' ahead of a key Youth Congress plenary later this month where the young leader could take on wider responsibilities in the party, the talk within is of a host of Congress leaders - Digvijay Singh, Milind Deora, Jairam Ramesh, Prithviraj Chavan, Kanishka Singh and Meenakshi Natrajan —ready to play a key role alongside Rahul Gandhi in the coming days.

The Congress party has already made it clear that Mr Rahul Gandhi’s role is expanding and a decision on his formal elevation will be taken by party chief Sonia Gandhi.

Digvijay Singh’s frontal attack on the saffron hardliners, especially the Sangh Parivar, and his campaign against Team Anna, have given a boost to the political constituency of the Congress, particularly the minorities.

Singh is seen as the tallest Thakur leader after Chandra Shekhar, V.P. Singh, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Arjun Singh.

In Maharashtra, loyalist Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, has started rebuilding the party. Dominated by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP in the west, Chavan is trying to exploit dissent in the NCP, consistent with the line of 'ekla chalo' in the state, and in keeping with Mr Gandhi’s keenness on not running a coalition at the Centre for long, preferring to form a government on its own.

Union minister Milind Deora, working closely with Mr Gandhi for the last six to seven years will play a bigger role after Rahul's elevation.

Meenakshi Natrajan, sitting Lok Sabha member from Mandsour in Madhya Pradesh and AICC secretary, a product of the Youth Congress is expected to be an asset to Team Rahul, as will Mr Kanishka Singh, Mr Gandhi’s 'Man Friday'.

End of YC chapter for Rahul?

Amid speculation that Rahul Gandhi may assume a larger role in the party soon, the Youth Congress will hold a national convention here November 24-25 which its members say could be his last with him at the helm.

“It may be an occasion for Rahulji to bid adieu to us. He has to move ahead," a leader of the Youth Congress, who clearly did not want to be identified, said. The massive youth meet will deliberate on several topical issues like the fight against corruption and the role of the Youth Congress to back the party during crisis situations, the leader added.

"In Rahulji's typical style, elaborate and meticulous preparations have begun. But with utmost secrecy," he said.

Though the venue of the meet has not been finalised, newly-elected Youth Congress office bearers from assembly constituency to national levels have been asked to reach Delhi Nov 24, the sources said.

Rahul Gandhi, 41, who was appointed party general secretary in September 2007 with the charge of the student and youth wings - the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Youth Congress - has worked hard to promote the youth into leadership positions in the party and legislatures.

During the past four years, he travelled to colleges and universities across the country to urge students and youth to enter public life and join developmental activities.

"The Youth Congress meet may mark the end of one chapter of Rahulji's work - as the in-charge of the organisation - and the beginning of a new chapter in charge of wider political issues," the Youth Congress leader told the media.

However, an aide to Gandhi said that "it was incorrect and baseless to say Gandhi taking any new charge soon after the meet."

The meet assumes significance as it is held during parliament's winter session in which the party is likely to face the heat over the Lokpal bill, political observers say.

It will also come four days after senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani concludes his 38-day Jan Chetna Yatra in the national capital. Political circles have been abuzz with talk that Rahul Gandhi, a Congress general secretary, may assume a higher role as the working president of the party.