Rise of Rahul may change power equations in TNCC

The anoiting of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president could mark the fall of a few senior leaders in the local unit. Congress insiders here, young and old alike, agreed that the days of benchwarmers for whom, longevity was the ticket to success could soon be of a bygone era in the reign of Rahul.

Except a handful of seniors or indispensable leaders like former union finance minister P Chidambaram, other ‘seniors’ who tasted power, courtesy their influential AICC connections, could be shown the door henceforth.

A senior Parliamentarian, on condition of anonymity told DT Next that Rahul had in fact started the ‘reform’ process even before taking over as vice president. “The so-called veterans and their sidekicks felt the heat in 2011 when Rahul allotted 10 Assembly seats exclusively to the then Youth Congress functionaries in Tamil Nadu. He did it again in 2014 by giving seats to a few prominent YC members,” the Parliamentarian reasoned.

“Those Congress seniors who got seats for walking with the Gandhi’s in the past will be greatly affected. It may not happen immediately, but he will gradually overlook the old timers who don’t contribute much to the party and still aspire for power and position. Except a few influential ones, other veterans would have to be content with whatever little they are given, mainly in 2019. Glimpses of the purge were seen when Rahul shot down the proposals of a few Congress seniors in TNCC functionaries’ appointment,” a senior PCC functionary said.

Vilavancode MLA S Vijayadharani, who accompanied Rahul to cyclone-hit Kanniyakumari said that he backs people who work for the party. “When I explained my inability to attend his swearing in ceremony by citing the relief distribution and meeting with affected families. Rahulji was happy. He said that it was more important for me (as Congress MLA) to be in Kanniyakumari.

He acknowledges only those who work hard,” she said.