CWC sets stage for Gen Sec Rahul

The Congress Working Committee, in a meeting that was dominated by discussions on the quota issue, on Saturday set the stage for Rahul Gandhi's formal induction into the party machine, most likely as general secretary.

The Congress Working Committee, in a meeting that was dominated by discussions on the quota issue, on Saturday set the stage for Rahul Gandhi's formal induction into the party machine, most likely as general secretary.

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The Congress's highest decision making body hailed party chief Sonia Gandhi's victory in Rae Bareli, lauded Rahul's good work there, and congratulated the PM and the UPA on completing two years in office, through two separate resolutions.

After Sonia herself appreciated Rahul's good work in her constituency by-poll, she had indicated he would be given an organizational role. Last week's CPP meeting had noted the same. And now the CWC resolution.

There was, however, no discussion on Rahul at the CWC, a point made by tourism minister Ambika Soni in her media interaction. Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee maintained it lay in Sonia's "exclusive jurisdiction" as to when exactly Rahul would be drafted for an organisational role.

Mukherjee briefed the meeting on both the quota issue, which he is trying to resolve with his talks with the agitating students, and the Telengana statehood issue. There was no mention of the government's promise to implement the quota regime in the CWC's congratulatory resolution.Several members spoke on the matter, and opinion was apparently divided. "Thre were views, there were perceptions," was Soni's stock response to questions. Sonia is believed to have heard out members but did not intervene after Mukherjee related his talks with students. HRD minister Arjun Singh also spoke on the subject.

On Telengana's statehood, Mukherjee said the process of evolving a consensus was on, and it would require some more time to firm up conclusions.