Rahul Gandhi returns, no clarity on his elevation as Cong chief

Ending his 56-day mysterious leave, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi returned to Delhi on Thursday, missing the Union budget, court summon to former PM Manmohan Singh, passage of land ordinance once again and ‘missing’ posters on his name in Amethi, the constituency he belongs to besides a PIL in the Allahabad High Court after he went missing.

Now that the Congress would-be chief is back in Delhi, he should answer to the following three questions.

Why did he run away from the political scene at the height of protests against the land acquisition bill?

Will he take over as the Congress chief?

If yes, what will be his first move after becoming chief?

Congress which has been performing badly since last Lok Sabha elections, was followed by a string of defeats in Assembly elections too, Delhi being the latest.

Rahul will address the Kisan-Khet Mazdoor rally on April 19, organised by his party to register protest against the proposed land acquisition bill by the Modi government. He is likely to meet a delegation of farmers on April 17.

While leaders of his party voiced confidence on Thursday that Rahul would provide leadership with dynamism and commitment and take pro-active measures, BJP took potshots saying he “ran away” as he had lost all confidence.

“From Nehru to Rahul, it is the withering away of the dynasty,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra says.