Congress’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi has told her aides that she would step down from the party’s top post, sources said, after a letter signed by more than 20 top leaders, seeking “full-time”, “visible” leadership, became public. While praising the leadership of the Gandhis over the years, the five-page letter had called for a “full-time”, “visible” leadership. With Rahul Gandhi adamant that he would not accept the top job, stage has been set for a big confrontation at the party’s key internal meet to be held tomorrow. A section of top leaders, like Amarinder and Bhupesh Baghel, have publicly said that she must continue as the party chief.
The letter called for a “full-time”, “effective leadership” that will be “visible” and “active” in the field, sources said. The signatories, however, made it clear there is no criticism of Rahul Gandhi. “We have not criticised Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, but we want a complete overhaul of the Congress party in its management and style,” one of them told NDTV. The letter praised Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi and said they will remain an integral part of the “collective leadership”.
