New Delhi: A mood of despair prevails in the Congress headquarters at 24 Akbar Road. More than anything else, it is Rahul Gandhi’s inner circle, an elite coterie of outsiders, which is being silently opposed by the rank and file of the party. The old guard which sits at 24 Akbar Road is hardly welcomed at Rahul’s official residence at 12 Tuglak Lane in New Delhi. On top of the list figures the name of Rahul’s close aide Alankar Sawai, a former ICICI Bank official who helps the party President in documentation, research and in suggesting ideas on political strategy.
“Alankar wields tremendous clout in the party. Rahul might ignore the advice of senior leaders, but usually pays attention to Alankar’s inputs. All Congress Chief Ministers and even Ahmed Patel give him importance,” said a party functionary. The leaders who often fail to seek appointment with Rahul Gandhi blame Kaushal Vidhyarthi or K. Raju when they find all the doors closed for them. The common perception is that the coterie serves as a wall between the leader and his loyal followers. —
