Can Rahul overhaul AP Congress?

AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who embarked upon a mission to add new energy by bringing young blood into the State Congress party is now a vocal point among the party circles in Hyderabad.

In fact, Rahul Gandhi's meeting of Chief Ministers, PCC chiefs and legislative party leaders on Friday may be extended by another day. He wants to know the prevailing situations in the Congress party-ruled states and other states as well keeping in view the 2014 elections. However, Rahul Gandhi’s exercise also indicates early polls in the country. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana, representing Andhra Pradesh attended the meeting fully prepared, it is learnt.
AP is assumed to be one of the weakest Congress-ruled states and only one ruling state in the South, where there are many factors spoiling the party chances   to retain power for the third consecutive term. After the sudden demise of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the State had slipped into a deep crisis. Telangana issue came to the forefront as it paralysed the administration for nearly three years. Another major political issue which has landed the Congress party in trouble is YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s new party, YSRCP. Since its inception, the YSR Congress Party made a strong dent in the ruling Congress party as massive migrations have taken place, which is still on in full swing!
On the other hand, Chandrababu Naidu, who's known for his political tactics, is leaving no stone unturned to grab the opportunity eying power and touring the entire state with the slogan “Vastunna Meekosam” padayatra. He just touched the 2000-km milestone in his marathon padayatra following the suite of late YS Rajasekhar Reddy, who came to power after his padayatra.
At a time, all the political forces are gearing up to capture power, the Congress party has so far relied only on the image of Kiran Kumar Reddy. Now, the only ray of hope among Congress leaders is Rahul Gandhi, who is expected to do a miracle to ensure victory. Kiran and Botsa are likely to brief Rahul on the prevailing situation in the state especially the hen-pecking issue of Telangana. What will be Rahul's strategy to solve the ticklish issue is a million dollar question. Will he be allowed to stir the hornet's nest by his mom Sonia Gandhi in such a delicate issue such as Telangana, is also another tricky question.
Setting aside the Telangana issue, the options left before Rahul Gandhi is possibly giving chances for the young leaders, who are waiting for opportunities over the years as they felt that the party seniors were hampering their chances. Disgruntled youth leaders, up in arms against the party seniors, are pinning all their hopes on Rahul. It is left to the discretion of Rahul Gandhi if he will rely on the reports of Botsa and Kiran or make an attempt to know the ground realities by touring the entire state. It is widely speculated that Rahul had already appointed his own intelligence wing to tally the reports. Some party leaders, who claimed to be the sources of Rahul Gandhi, are understood to have tried to get mileage out of it. Undoubtedly, AP politics is throwing a major challenge to Rahul Gandhi to keep uniting all the groups and factions in the party. The Friday’s meeting may bring in some change in the ruling Congress, but how far will  it yield results depends on Rahul Gandhi’s caliber.
-Sakshipost