Rahul Gandhi is the unanimous choice for Congress leaders, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said
Rahul Gandhi is not a willing politician but his elevation as the Congress president will be unanimous, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla told NDTV. Mr Gandhi, 47, is expected to get the top job in the Congress by the end of the party's organizational election later this month.
"There are various types of leader. Some leader is made, some leaders are imposed, and Rahul Gandhi is not a willing politician. But the party needs a leadership - a strong and good leader and unfortunate Sonia Gandhi is unwell. Therefore, it is the unanimous choice of leaders and masses within Congress to elevate Rahul Gandhi," Mr Thanhawla told NDTV.
Mr Thanhawla has been a 'close aide' of the Gandhi family right from Indira Gandhi's days and rose to prominence when Rajiv Gandhi became the prime minister. 76-year-old Mr Thanhawla is also the oldest serving Congress chief minister in the country.
The north east was once seen as a Congress fortress, but now Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur are ruled by the BJP, which is also a partner in the NPF-run government in Nagaland.
Lal Thanhawla is the oldest serving chief minister from the Congress
With elections in Mizoram slated for next year, Mr Thanhawla is getting ready for what could be a very tough election for the Congress, since the BJP is trying to forge an alliance with the main opposition - the Mizo National Front (MNF).
Asked about the party not doing well in most elections held after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the chief minister said that the Congress had faced anti-incumbency as it had ruled at the centre for many years.
"The Congress got defeated because of anti-incumbency. Congress has enjoyed power since Independence and not only in India or in Mizoram; there are several instances that a prolonged rule generates huge anti-incumbency," the four-time Mizoram chief minister further added.
Mizoram has a 40 member assembly with 34 MLAs belonging to the Congress.