“Rahul will lead the party during 2014 general elections and would be the prime ministerial candidate,” party leader Sanjay Nirupam said before the discussions began on Day-2. Uttar Pradesh leader Jitin Prasada said, “Things are being discussed as to how we can ensure participation of youths. Rahul is certainly our leader and he will lead 2014 general elections of Congress and the country as well.”
Union Minister Veeprappa Moily said, “Rahul is already a leader.We have stable leaders we are proud of them. Congress has always enjoyed great leadership. If there is any disconnect we are discussing these concerns and will ensure that there is proper connect.”
About the demand for larger role to Rahul, Union Minister Rajiv Shukla said, “It is to be decided by Sonia and Rahul, we can only demand and we are demanding.”
Party leader Manishankar Aiyar said the entire party is with Rahul Gandhi but it is he, who has to take a decision to adopt a larger responsibility in the party. “For us, the priority is to empower people and discussions are being made,” he said.
As the party debated its future course of action and its strategy to come to power in 2014 general elections and reviving the party's fortunes in states, the leaders did recognise the challenge coming from BJP's Narendra Modi. Aiyar, however, felt that Modi's projection will work to the advantage of Congress.
“As far as BJP is concern, there is infighting in BJP. They cannot hold such Chintan Shivir because they are the puppets of RSS,” he charged.
