Ashok Gehlot came out in support of Rahul Gandhi amid the crisis in the Congress. (File)
Rahul Gandhi should be Congress chief, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Sunday, ahead of a closely-watched meeting of the party's top decision-making body where its massive election defeat is being discussed.
"Rahul Gandhi should become the party president. For the last three decades, nobody from the Gandhi family became a PM or a minister. It is significant to understand that the Gandhi family is important for Congress' unity," he told news agency ANI, shortly before the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting began in Delhi.
"Politics of polarisation is easier. BJP propagated Congress as a Muslim party on social media. Our way is to maintain the integrity and unity of the country. During polls, religion comes to the forefront while issues of inflation and jobs take a back seat for BJP," he said.
"In 2017, Congress was united and we won. After Channi became the Chief Minister the environment was conducive too but it was our mistake that due to internal conflict we lost assembly elections in Punjab," Mr Gehlot said.
The massive rout in the five states has revived searing criticism of the Gandhi family and demands for a complete overhaul and leadership change - a demand that may no longer be confined to the "G-23" or group of 23 "dissenters" who had written to Sonia Gandhi two years ago.
Sources say the Congress organisational elections to elect a new party chief, scheduled in August-September, may now be advanced by two three months, in the CWC meet today.
The Congress has categorically denied that the Gandhis - party chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra - will resign at the meet. Ahead of the meeting, the Jharkhand Congress passed a resolution in support of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
Many internally predict yet another futile exercise in the name of "introspection" with the CWC - in which Gandhi "loyalists" easily outnumber "dissenters" - widely expected to steer clear of hard decisions.