Rahul set to take over,Congress top brass gets first look

Sonia Gandhi could remain indisposed for a prolonged period.

Rahul Gandhi is set to take charge of the Congress,with the timing reportedly only a matter of detail. Congress president Sonia Gandhi,who underwent major surgery in a US hospital early this month,could remain indisposed for a prolonged period. And Rahul,who returned to India on Sunday,is reportedly getting a new,redefined role within the party organisation.

At his first public appearance since news came of Sonias illness,Rahul said his mother was much better now.

On Monday,Rahul appeared to be bracing for the bigger responsibility. After party treasurer Motilal Vora unfurled the tricolour at the Congress headquarters,Rahul took over holding a one-and-a-half-hour meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other senior leaders in Sonias office.

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He was in complete control,choosing and inviting senior leaders to be part of his deliberations with the Prime Minister,which were reportedly focused on the governments strategy vis-a-vis Anna Hazares planned fast.

Before leaving for her surgery,Sonia had appointed a four-member committee to look after party affairs. It comprised,besides Rahul,her political secretary Ahmed Patel,Defence Minister A K Antony and party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi.

Party sources said today that the four-member committee is only an interim arrangement. Rahul may be appointed working president or there may be some other model of succession. His role will be fully defined after the Congress president returns, a senior Congress leader told The Indian Express. He added that Rahuls role was likely to be redefined in a couple of months.

Sources in the party,however,ruled out the possibility of Rahuls appointment as working president,citing his reluctance earlier to be appointed vice-president of the party.

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After the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Congress headquarters,following which the PM and Rahul distributed sweets among children,party leaders,including ministers,went inside the building.

Shortly afterwards,Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was seen walking out. AICC secretary Manish Chatrath was immediately sent after him to request him to come back and join the deliberations. Rahul was said to have also briefed senior leaders about Sonias condition post-surgery.

Information & Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni was asked to join the talks,as was Dwivedi,who is the Congresss media department chairman. While Mukherjee and Antony left after about an hour,Rahul and the Prime Minister continued the talks with Soni and Dwivedi. Many senior leaders and ministers who were waiting outside left as the meeting got prolonged.

Vora,Ahmed Patel and Dwivedi later accompanied Rahul to the entrance of 10 Janpath,to see him off the way they used to whenever Sonia came to party headquarters.