Rahul Gandhi may take charge as Cong president soon, hints Moily

Hyderabad: Rahul Gandhi may take charge as Congress president through an “internal election process” as early as next month, senior party leader M Veerappa Moily hinted on Friday.

"Everybody (in Congress) feels it is (his elevation) delayed. Now, he (Rahul) is waiting for organisation elections. He would like to emerge as the president of AICC only out of the election process," PTI quoted him as saying.

Asked if Rahul would take over the mantle next month, Moily said, "Possibly yes". He added that Rahul's elevation would be a game-changer for the party.

"He (Rahul) should immediately take over as Congress president. That's good for the party, good for the country," Moily said.

Rahul had recently said he was "absolutely ready" to take up an executive responsibility if the party asked him to do so.

The internal poll process at the state-level is likely to be completed this month while the one at the AICC level would be held next, the ex-Karnataka CM said.

Exuding confidence over Rahul's ability to steer the party, Moily said that the Gandhi scion has a "new approach and new method".

“Congress is well-rooted in continuity and legacy... With Congress virtues, he (Rahul) has an attitude for change, and he will do that," Moily said.

Asked what needs to be done to boost the party prospects, he said, "Rahul Gandhi is doing it.

“We will have to address the issues in respect of each of the state, because each state is different from the rest.

“So, that requires state-wise strategies not only for the coming state elections but also parliamentary polls in 2019."

"Our policy at the national and state levels should be reoriented and published so that people think there is always an alternative to the present NDA government," he said.

On what he wants Rahul to do once he assumes charge, Moily said he has to "first thoroughly reshuffle the people who are in-charge of the states, reshuffle immediately within a time-frame, all the state-level organisations right from grass-roots levels. These things will have to be reorganised."

On the coming Assembly elections in Karnataka, Moily said, "Congress will come out with absolute majority. There is no question of BJP coming back."

Moily charged the BJP with failure to honour election promises and alleged that the economy and exports have sharply declined. "They (NDA government) have failed miserably. This is a worst scenario. The myth of the present NDA government will explode during the Lok Sabha elections in 2019," he said.

On the government favouring bringing petroleum products under the ambit of GST, Moily, the former oil minister, indicated that it would have to be done eventually.

"That (proposal to bring petrol and diesel under GST) cannot be opposed. It has to be brought under the GST today or tomorrow; instead of bringing it in future they have brought it (proposed now). (But) the manner in which they are hiking the petrol and diesel prices is totally unjustified," he said.

Moily also said that states have been opposing the move right from the beginning as they would lose money if it were to be implemented. But bringing petroleum products under GST would be good for the industrial sector.

(With agency inputs)