* Rahul slips into Sonia’s shoes

The Hindu: “The transition of power in the Congress is taking place gradually as its less than two-month-old vice-president has begun to take regular meetings with the organisation’s functionaries and MPs, presiding over meetings that the party president — and his mother — Sonia Gandhi held till recently.

Learning the ropes? A file photo of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi at a party meet. File Photo: AP

Streamline the party organisation and put in place a system that will bridge the communication and coordination deficit, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi told central office-bearers here on Wednesday evening.

In the next fortnight, he added, he intended bringing together PCC chiefs, CLP leaders, and central general secretaries and secretaries in charge of States for a discussion, even as some senior functionaries suggested holding conventions in States where the Congress is in power to publicise the UPA government’s flagship programmes and dharnas in the Opposition-ruled States.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Gandhi met party MPs from Madhya Pradesh as part of a series of discussions he is holding daily with parliamentarians from different States. The focus at this meeting was on the party working concertedly to oust the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh in the Assembly elections later this year and ensuring that the Congress received the credit for Centrally sponsored welfare schemes being implemented in the State.

The transition of power in the Congress is taking place gradually as its less than two-month-old vice-president has begun to take regular meetings with the organisation’s functionaries and MPs, presiding over meetings that the party president — and his mother — Sonia Gandhi held till recently.

But the paradox is that while Mr. Gandhi is seen to be leading from the front in a bid to strengthen, energise and democratise the Congress, on Tuesday, he told MPs and journalists that becoming Prime Minister was not his priority as he believed in “long-term politics” — he wanted to empower everyone. He said he wanted to focus on strengthening his party ahead of next year’s general elections.”

via Rahul slips into Sonia’s shoes – The Hindu.

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