Rahul Gandhi in top Congress trust

The institutions and establishments associated with the Congress party are undergoing a quiet generational change. In low-key fashion, Rahul Gandhi was inducted into the Jawahar Bhawan Trust (JBT) a few days ago. Party president and trust chairman Sonia Gandhi has also inducted Mukul Wasnik, the minister of social justice and empowerment, as a member.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was inducted into the trust last year. She is also working with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, which functions from the JBT premises opposite Sashtri Bhavan.

Sources close to 10 Janpath say this is the beginning of getting Rahul and the party’s young blood involved in the activities of Congress trusts and foundations. Rahul had been keeping away from these institutions while Priyanka was active in their welfare activities.

Political observers are a bit surprised at the rise of Wasnik in Rahul’s core team since he was never part of the ‘baba log’ — MPs part of the Rahul brigade. Wasnik is also president of the Congress Seva Dal.

The three have replaced Arjun Singh, ML Fotedar and Mohsina Kidwai in the JBT. While Singh and Fotedar have almost retired from active polics, Kidwai, a member of the Rajya Sabha, has been made chairperson of the Haj Committee with cabinet rank.
But Ahmad Patel, a Gandhi family loyalist for three decades, continues as a JBT member. He is Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary and functions as a bridge between the party and the government. Another veteran, Motilal Vora, has been made a secretary of the JBT.