By Abdul hafiz lakhani
New Delhi: Close on the heels of results of recent Assembly election in two states Maharashtra and Haryana–It seems that grand old party Congress is back to Sonia Gandhi era and party’s senior leaders like Ahmed Patel and Gulam Nabi Azad are stronger after much needed boost which Party got after results. Maharashtra and Haryana polls outcomes have infused a new life in the Congress and the party is gearing up for a bigger fight with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
For the 90-member Haryana Assembly results are showing that the Congress old guard were correct in choosing Bhupinder Singh Hooda to lead the party in the state.The grand old party has proved all exit polls wrong by catapulting itself close to the magic figure.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel play major role
The old guard that includes Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel had major roles in the selection of the new party setup in Haryana. Both Hooda and state unit President Kumari Selja are close to Ahmed Patel.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s appointee Ashok Tanwar has left the party, In Maharashtra too, the party replaced former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan at the helm with Balasaheb Thorat.
In the Mumbai unit, the party appointed Eknath Gaikwad as the acting president after Milind Deora resigned from the post following the Lok Sabha poll debacle.
Sonia Gandhi era
These moves appear to indicate that Congress is returning to the Sonia era. While the choice of the younger lot for Delhi Congress chief was either Alka Lamba or Kirti Azad, the party-appointed veteran Subhash Chopra to the post.
The dissolution of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) on last Wednesday also speaks of the old guard having its way in key decisions
Poll results have indicated return of Ahmed Patel and that the Congress Chanakya can still deliver whatever may be the political situation.The poll results also have the mark of Sonia Gandhi and Patel. When the party entered the fray, it was caught in a precarious situation, had limited resources and was facing cash crunch.
The party has called several meetings in the next few days to streamline its functioning and finalise strategic stand on various issues facing the party and the nation. Before the elevation of Rahul Gandhi as the party president, Patel played significant role in the party affairs and his voice was considered a command. During the Rahul era, he limited himself to his domain.
However, Patel proved his mettle by defeating BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls despite BJP chief Amit Shah managing the affairs in Gujarat.Though the Congress could not return to power, the good show at the hustings indicate comeback of Team Sonia that ousted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from power in 2004 and ran two successive governments.And the confidante of Sonia Gandhi will play a major role in party affairs in the coming future.