The Congress on Wednesday dropped hints of Rahul Gandhi’s imminent return as party president by aggressively contradicting reports that had suggested that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wanted somebody from outside the family to lead the party.

What created confusion was an interview Priyanka gave a year ago that appeared in a book published now. A section of the media presented it as Priyanka’s view on the leadership question without explaining the context and timing of the interview. Priyanka had said this in July 2019, against the backdrop of Rahul’s resignation.

Party’s communication chief Randeep Surjewala responded to the controversy in a series of tweets: “Nehru-Gandhi family has held together & served the Congress unmindful of the trappings of power. In 2004, Sonia ji set an example by sacrificing power to serve the party. In 2019, Rahul ji showed the courage of conviction & stepped down as Congress president. We at Congress appreciate the sudden media interest (egged on by BJP) in a year-old remark (Dated 1st July, 2019) of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.”

Surjewala added: “The context today is to take on the vicious attack on India’s polity by Modi-Shah dispensation & fight it fearlessly on front foot. Millions of Congress workers and leaders have seen that Rahul Gandhi has led the fight tirelessly, undaunted by the setbacks & vile attacks by Modi Government on a daily basis. It is this fearlessness and uncompromising courage that the Congress requires, (party) workers respect & the nation needs.”

Priyanka was in the interview only reflecting Rahul’s sentiments in the aftermath of his resignation.

The Congress party collectively rejected Rahul’s stand that someone from outside the family take the party’s reins and chose to go with Sonia Gandhi as the interim president. Even while opting for this stop-gap arrangement, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) had unanimously requested Rahul to reconsider his decision.

Though the unease within the party has doubtless intensified over the past few months and everybody wants a full-fledged president, Rahul has not vanished after his exit and instead continued to work as the leader. The party has also treated him as the ultimate authority even as there are serious reservations over what many describe as back-seat driving.

The appointments made in the past bear Rahul’s distinct imprint and it is only a legitimate expectation from party leaders and workers that the leadership question be settled sooner than later.

What Surjewala said on record on Wednesday is privately talked about by a majority of leaders in the party. Two kinds of voices can be heard among the leaders:

One small section says Rahul should finally step aside and let somebody else take over if he is determined not to come back. An overwhelming majority believes it is only a matter of time that he will return as nobody else is acceptable.

In both viewpoints, there is no fundamental objection to his leadership.

If he decides to respect the majority opinion, there shouldn’t be any hurdle in his way.