Will Ashok Gehlot accept Sonia Gandhi's offer to end Congress' woes?

New Delhi: A news report in The Hindu on Wednesday claimed that Congress president Sonia Gandhi has urged Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot to take over the reins of the party from her.

NewsDrum had on May 13 reported on the possible changes expected in the grand old party as it approaches the deadline to elect a new president.

As of now, that is expected to be completed by September 21.

NewsDrum on August 22 reported that it is time for Rahul Gandhi to take the bull by its horns or step aside and let someone else assume the post.

He has so far stuck to his stand that the next Congress chief should be a non-Gandhi. If The Hindu report is correct, then it is clear that Rahul Gandhi is unlikely to change his mind.

If his position remains unchanged, then Gehlot could be a potential candidate.

However, there have been suggestions that Sonia Gandhi should remain at the helm if Rahul Gandhi continues to be reluctant and Gehlot could be her working president to look after day-to-day functioning of the party.

In that case, the Congress high command could hand over the chief ministership to Sachin Pilot and put an end to its woes in Rajasthan.

The only hurdle in implementing this move is Gehlot himself as he doesn't want to leave the chief minister's post and shift to Delhi.

He has been insisting that it would come as a huge disappointment for Congress workers if Rahul Gandhi does not return as the party chief.

Gehlot further said that they will continue to put pressure on Rahul Gandhi to accept the demand of the hundreds and thousands of Congress workers.

But there is also an interesting twist to this tale. While Sonia Gandhi has urged Gehlot to take over, the party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' will be kicked off by Rahul Gandhi on September 7.

Prior to that, he will address the 'Mehangai par halla bol' rally in Delhi on September 4.

This has added to the prevailing confusion in the Congress with some leaders asking that if Gehlot or any other non-Gandhi is taking over the party reins, why is Rahul Gandhi the poster boy of the nationwide campaign?

Won't that undermine the new party chief? No one in the Congress has an answer to that.