Congress MP Rahul Gandhi (Reuters, File photo)

NEW DELHI: As the vexed leadership issue roils Congress , and an internal debate picks pace and urgency, a group of young party MPs and organisational functionaries are discussing among themselves the merits of coming out in the open and weighing in on the issue. And if the tenor of their confabulations is anything to go by, it could be a request to Rahul Gandhi to take a speedy decision.

Sources said these members favoured issuing a plea to Rahul to resume Congress’ leadership which he relinquished in May 2019 in the wake of a second consecutive Lok Sabha defeat. The MPs are, however, of the view that should he still not be ready, then Rahul should not object to any other choice the party might make.

The reference is to Rahul’s condition that no member of the Gandhi family head Congress, a caveat that rules out Priyanka Gandhi Vadra . The discussions are part of a churn as party functionaries consider issues of leadership and policies — some have expressed disquiet that a strongly anti-CAA/NPR/NRC stand runs the risk of alienating the majority vote — and it remains to be seen if they yield results.

“There is nothing like Rahul coming back soon to lead again,” is the refrain. The fledgling plan, in which a particular state is more active, suggests levels of desperation in Congress ranks. An MP close to Rahul said they were “demoralised” by lack of leadership resulting in drift that delayed the task of rebuilding.

