Rahul Gandhi returns after a break of three weeks… 3 big political exams are ahead from Punjab to UP!

After a break of about 20 days, Rahul Gandhi returned to India on Monday. Congress did not give any official information regarding his foreign trip. However, party sources say that Rahul was on a tour of Europe. Like always, BJP has started raising questions regarding this foreign trip. But the real question in politics is not Rahul’s leave, but the challenges facing him after his return.

As soon as he returns to the country, Rahul Gandhi will have to take decisions on three fronts, which can decide the direction of Congress politics in the coming months.

First challenge: Congress’ internal fight in electoral states

• Assembly elections in five states are round the corner, but in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Goa, Congress is first struggling with its own internal strife.
• The biggest problem is in Punjab. Many senior leaders including former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi are adamant on the demand for removal of State Congress President Raja Vading. In-charge Bhupesh Baghel is continuously saying that there will be no change in the leadership, but the internal tussle is not ending. The dilemma before Rahul Gandhi is clear. If Charanjit Singh Channi’s demand is accepted then questions will be raised on the credibility of the high command, and if it is not accepted then factionalism in Punjab may intensify.
• The picture is not easy in Uttar Pradesh also. Talks on seat sharing with Samajwadi Party have not even started yet. On one hand, Congress is talking about equal share, while on the other hand, party MP Imran Masood is continuously attacking Akhilesh Yadav. There is also discussion that preparations are going on for organizational change in UP Congress.
• In Goa also the state president has recently been changed. After the appointment of Girish Chodankar, reports of former president Amit Patkar’s displeasure are continuously coming to the fore. This means that before entering the electoral battle, Rahul Gandhi will have to test the discipline and unity within his own party.

Second Challenge: To give new momentum to the ‘Students’ Echo’ campaign

• Rahul Gandhi will address a big public meeting in Dehradun on July 17 under the ‘Students’ Echo’ campaign. This campaign focuses on issues related to paper leak and youth employment.
• This campaign was started on 17th June from Kota, Rajasthan. After that Congress took it forward through press conferences across the country. Now after the return of Rahul Gandhi, the party is preparing to raise this issue more aggressively.
• After Dehradun, programs are also proposed in many other cities and preparations are going on for a big rally in Delhi on 9th August. Congress hopes that issues related to youth can become a big political weapon for it in the election environment.

Third challenge: The real test for the opposition leader in the monsoon session.

• The monsoon session of Parliament is starting from July 20 and it is being considered one of the most important sessions for Rahul Gandhi as the leader of the opposition. The opposition is making a strategy to corner the government on issues like paper leak, alleged theft of offerings in Ram temple and ethanol laced petrol.
• At the same time, BJP is continuously busy expanding the clan of its allies. There is talk in political circles that if the ruling party is successful in garnering two-thirds support in Parliament, then efforts can be made to move forward on major constitutional issues like delimitation, implementation of women’s reservation and ‘one country, one election’. In such a situation, Rahul Gandhi’s responsibility will not only be to attack the government, but will also be to keep the entire opposition united.

Rahul will meet Congress President Kharge tomorrow

Rahul Gandhi has returned after a break of about three weeks. But now there is no rest in front of him, but three big political tests in a row – managing the party, cornering the government on the issue of youth and leading the opposition within the Parliament. The coming few weeks will decide whether Rahul Gandhi is able to convert these challenges into political opportunities or not. Rahul Gandhi will meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. This is the first important meeting of Rahul Gandhi after returning from abroad.