When during a plenary session in March Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that he would ‘drag talented youngsters to the stage’, it must have had the young lot flying high. Four months hence, it seems Rahul had a change of heart as he formed Congress Working Committee (CWC) that has seasoned leaders.
The highest decision-making body of the party has incorporated 23 CWC members that has, barring Rahul, everyone above 50 years of age.
The panel has nearly 70 per cent leaders who have crossed 60s and 70s. Even a few leaders between the age group of 80-90 like Motilal Vora (89), Manmohan Singh (85), Tarun Gogoi (83), AK Antony (77), Ambika Soni (75), Oommen Chandy (74), Mallikarjun Kharge (75), have been inducted.
The sum of age of the leaders stands at 1,560 years, giving an average of 67 which is like crossing senior citizen age of 60. Ironically, the team of old guards is led by Rahul, who at 48 is the youngest of the lot. With inclusion of Kumari Selja (55), Mukul Vasnik (58) and KC Venugopal (55), Rahul has attempted to create a balance among the ones running in their 50s, but has failed otherwise as most others are aged over 60.
This is a clear indication that the former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has had a role in influencing the rejig in the CWC panel and names like Ahmad Patel, Vora, Ghulam Nabi Azad substantiate the notion. Congress veterans still rule the party and they can’t be bypassed.
Only solace for the younger leaders is that they have been braced in clubs of permanent invitees and special invitees attached to the committee.
The league of young leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitendra Singh, Rajiv Satav, RPN Singh, Gaurav Gogoi, Jitin Prasada, Arun Yadav, Randeep Surajewala are a few names who are among the invitees.
Apart from 23-member CWC panel, Rahul has introduced clubs of 18 permanent invitees and 10 special invitees including head of frontal organizations like Youth Congress, NSUI.
Old Warlords
The panel has nearly 70 per cent leaders who have crossed 60s and 70s. Even a few leaders between the age group of 80-90 like Motilal Vora (89), Manmohan Singh (85), Tarun Gogoi (83), AK Antony (77), Ambika Soni (75), Oommen Chandy (74), Mallikarjun Kharge (75), have been inducted.
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 "Moti Lal Vora, Ambika Soni and Manmohan Singh")
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