Home » national news » No individual can magically revive Congress: Jairam Ramesh on Priyanka Gandhi
 
SPEED NEWS

No individual can magically revive Congress: Jairam Ramesh on Priyanka Gandhi

News Agencies | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:48 IST

Amid clamour within a section of the Congress party for Priyanka Gandhi to take an active political role, senior leader Jairam Ramesh said no individual has a magic wand that can revive the party and that team effort is the only way forward.

"I have always believed that the answer to the Congress' revival lies not in one individual but in a collective endeavour," Ramesh said when asked if Priyanka should campaign extensively in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election or wait till the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"No individual has a magic wand. The magic wand lies in a collective entity called the Congress party. Each of us has a responsibility to contribute to the revival. We cannot sit back and say: 'A' will do this, 'B' will do this and 'C' will do this. I think that era is over," he said.

"Nobody has a magic wand any more. The magic wand is a collective entity. It's a collective effort, it's a team effort," said Ramesh.

On whether "delay" in Rahul Gandhi taking over as Congress president is hurting the party's prospects, he said, "I think it (Rahul's taking over) is a last mile issue right now. I think it's only a matter of time. I am not privy to his time- frame, but I am sure it's going to happen sooner rather than later."

Ramesh said Congress has taken "the right steps" vis-a-vis Uttar Pradesh elections. For the party to announce a chief ministerial candidate (Sheila Dikshit) almost eight months before the poll is unusual. "So, I think we are learning from our own experience."

"This is the first time we are announcing a chief ministerial candidate. We have a new PCC chief. We have a new coordination committee chairman. I think we should now wait for the people who have been appointed to deliver," the Congress spokesperson said on the UP elections.

-PTI

First published: 18 July 2016, 4:41 IST