Rahul Gandhi has invited all the Opposition MPs to a breakfast meeting on Tuesday with the twin objectives of boosting solidarity and deciding a future programme of action amid the deadlock in Parliament.
The invite has gone out to every Opposition MP instead of only the floor leaders, the first of its kind.
Rahul’s initiative seems to have pleased Opposition leaders, who are keen on a unified fight against the government, and also reignited the leadership debate in the Congress and underlined the need for the former party president to have a defined role.
While the farmers’ agitation had prepared the ground for unity of purpose among the Opposition parties, the Pegasus controversy has stoked the urge for a united offensive. The government is on the defensive and its stubborn refusal to allow a debate on the snooping allegations has deepened suspicions.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the parties may announce a political programme that could include the conduct of a mock Parliament outside the House to send out a message to the people.
A leader of an Opposition party said: “We are happy that Rahul has taken this initiative after attending an Opposition meeting in this session. It would have been better if he had called all the MPs to his residence, not the Constitution Club.
“By calling all of us to his house, he could have sent out a deeper message with a personal touch. But a beginning has been made, and we hope he extends his outreach to the friendly parties in the coming days. There’s a feeling among Opposition leaders that Rahul should step up his involvement.”
Rahul, who had largely avoided the task of coalition-building in the past, has now begun interacting with Opposition leaders and left a positive impression.
After attending the Opposition meeting held a few days ago, he tweeted: “Sitting with the entire Opposition is extremely humbling. Amazing experience, wisdom and insight in everyone present.”
With this one gesture of humility, followed by the invitations to Tuesday’s breakfast meeting, Rahul appears to have broken down several imaginary barriers and perceptions about his personality.
Asked why Rahul and not Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Party in Parliament (CPP), had called the meeting, a senior Congress politician said: “This ad-hocism highlights the need for a system to be put in place. Sonia Gandhi was elected CPP chairperson when Rahul was Congress president. Now Sonia is party president and Rahul has no official status to call such meetings. He should become CPP chairperson if there is no immediate plan to return as party chief.”
A Congress general secretary, however, told The Telegraph: “The process of electing the new party president has been delayed by Covid, but parliamentary responsibilities cannot be put off. It is good that Rahul has come forward to do the job.
“The impression we get is that he is willing to return (as party president) — and there’s no alternative, either. Ask any Opposition leader who is the most potent force against Narendra Modi, and you’ll get the answer.”
Congress insiders are hoping the leadership crisis would now end without too long a wait.
