India
Is Rahul Gandhi's elevation democratic?
Updated : Dec 04, 2017, 11:44 PM IST
On Monday, Congress leaders with the sole exception of Shehzad Poonawalla, were full of plaudits and praises for Rahul Gandhi. Mani Shankar Aiyar even countered PM Modi’s Aurangzeb jibe by claiming that the Congress election was ‘totally democratic’.
The counter to PM Modi’s Aurangzeb jibe however barely holds water, considering the events of the past week. Since Shehzad Poonawalla raised allegations of the election being ‘rigged’, he was removed from all Whatsapp groups from the Congress and disowned as a member, his work airbrushed out of history like the Soviets would do to dissidents.
On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi who filed his nomination paper today for the post of party president was accompanied by the who’s who of the Congress party. Sonia Gandhi, his mother and Congress president for the last 19 years, was not present but she was the one who proposed his name. At the time of writing, he was the sole candidate, clearing the decks for a democratic process to make him the president.
Former PM Manmohan Singh sang paeans about his greatness at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) saying: “Rahul ji has been the darling of the Congress. Congress president Smt Sonia Gandhi has served the Congress party and, through the Congress party, the country for the last 19 years. This is yet another step forward in that direction. Rahul Gandhi will carry on the great traditions of the Congress party.”
Five sets of nomination forms were filed on his behalf by Congress leaders including Congress Working Committee members, party general secretaries, in-charge in various states and chief ministers of party-ruled states.
Among those who proposed Rahul Gandhi's name in the first set of nomination papers were Sonia Gandhi, Motilal Vora, Ahmed Patel, Mohsina Kidwai, Kamal Nath, Ashok Gehlot, Mukul Wasnik, Sheila Dikshit, Tarun Gogoi and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy.Party leaders Manmohan Singh, Oscar Fernandes, P Chidambaram, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Anand Sharma, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Meghalaya counterpart Mukul Sangma proposed his name in the second set of nomination papers.
No one else filed papers till Sunday, revealed Mullapally Ramachandran, the chairman of the party’ Central Election Authority. The last date for withdrawal of the candidature is December 11. The poll, if necessary, will be held on December 16 and the counting will take place on December 19. Interestingly, just after he filed the nomination papers, congratulations poured in thick and fast, even though the so-called democratic process wasn’t over yet.
Senior Congress leaders also took to Twitter to express their happiness at Rahul Gandhi’s impending elevation, with the likes of P Chidamabram, Shashi Tharoor, Sharmistha Mukherjee, Randeep Surjewala, Ajay Maken, Sheila Dikshit, Sanjay and others using the hash tag #IndiaWithRahulGandhi. Perhaps, the grand old party, often in a state of denial have confused its own members’ feelings for the rest of the nation’s. Because if one thing is apparent from the recent electoral results across the country, India is not with Rahul Gandhi.
Here’s how Congress leaders ‘congratulated’ Gandhi for ‘filing his nomination papers’:
The future just got a little brighter. #IndiaWithRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/BK3H7Wxd2L
— Aalim Javeri (@AalimJaveri) December 4, 2017
.@OfficeOfRG seeks blessings from elders before filing his nomination. यही है भारतीय संस्कार #IndiawithRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/58RRPa0VCO
— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) December 4, 2017
Yet another historic moment as Rahul Gandhi files his nomination to guide the party with our full support. Congratulations.
— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) December 4, 2017
Congratulations &best wishes to Rahul Gandhi on behalf of @ProfCong. Let's all work for a better India! pic.twitter.com/enGus0FEvk
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 4, 2017
Congratulations to RahulGandhi on his nomination as President of @INCIndia! Looking fwd to working w/him for India. #IndiaWithRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/FZdU7iCuXf
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 4, 2017
Had Shri Rahul Gandhi not been at the helm, being @nsui president would have been a distant dream
— Fairoz Khan (@Fairoz_JK) December 4, 2017
Thanks @OfficeOfRG #IndiaWithRahulGandhi
Sri Rahul Gandhi is filing his nomination for President @INCIndia. His leadership is most essential to take India forward, towards becoming a more modern,secular,progressive,liberal & just nation.#IndiaWithRahulGandhi
— Dinesh Gundu Rao (@dineshgrao) December 4, 2017
May the spirit of Mahatma & Kasturba Gandhi guide you and be with you always as you step up to lead our historic Indian National Congress party #IndiaWithRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/NXMHDHDDT0
— Rajeev Gowda (@rajeevgowda) December 4, 2017
It is a touching moment for me to be witnessing this important chapter in the rich and proud history of @INCIndia. My best wishes to @OfficeOfRG #IndiaWithRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/HVNsKxhV4K
— Sheila Dikshit (@SheilaDikshit) December 4, 2017
As Mr Rahul Gandhi files his nomination, I wish him the very best as Congress President. #IndiaWithRahulGandhi
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) December 4, 2017
I extend my best wishes to Rahul ji as he files nomination for the @INCIndia's president post today. His leadership & guidance will rejuvenate the Party with new zeal and enthusiasm!
— Bharat Solanki (@BharatSolankee) December 4, 2017
#IndiaWithRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/qbhI3WVF2a
It’s an honour to be led by @OfficeOfRG #indiawithrahulgandhi
— Sushmita Dev (@sushmitadevmp) December 4, 2017
He is a symbol of strength, compassion & integrity. pic.twitter.com/p57JIDSbcF
Rahul Gandhi has brought in some major transformation in the Congress frontal organizations with internal democracy. Without this, ppl like me who come from middle class families & apolitical backgrounds would never be able to enter the political system. #IndiawithRahulGandhi
— Hasiba (@HasibaAmin) December 4, 2017
Today is the beginning of a new era of leadership for India-
— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) December 4, 2017
Pragmatic, Progressive and compassionate leadership in the form of @OfficeOfRG#IndiaWithRahulGandhi
Proud to be part of a historical moment. Look forward to a new innings by a dynamic and compassionate leader @OfficeOfRG #IndiawithRahulGandhi
— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) December 4, 2017
One of the most decent and caring politicians in India will be the next President of the Indian National Congress. Stay strong, we are with you! #IndiaWithRahulGandhi
— Salman Anees Soz (@SalmanSoz) December 4, 2017
#IndiaWithRahulGandhi : today, tomorrow and always.
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) December 4, 2017
Congratulations, Shri Rahul Gandhi @OfficeOfRG on filing nomination papers for election of post of President of @INCIndia.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 4, 2017
I am confident that the party will renew itself with greater vigour& scale new heights under your able leadership. I wish you success!#IndiaWithRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/MtYoWPEkUH
.@OfficeOfRG seeking blessings from @CitiznMukherjee & Former PM, Dr Manmohan Singh before filing nominations #IndiawithRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/4Bcb8UzwT7
— Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 4, 2017
As we can see from the over-the-top congratulations, the Congress elections seem less like a democratic process and more like a coronation with a long-drawn pageantry to elevate a leader waiting in the wings to become president since 2007. The outpouring of joy over the filing of nomination for a one-candidate in an election only confirms what we all knew and what Manish Tewari was caught saying on tape - the Congress like all private company's is a proprietorship.
With inputs from PTI