Amidst speculation about elevation of Rahul Gandhi as the Congress president, HRD Minister Smriti Irani has said that it will be the ‘achche din’ for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

It is achche din for us,” said Irani, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi, his anointment. To a question on why she chose to attack Rahul Gandhi so much, she said, “I am asked by journalists, so I say.”

“That only strengthens our case for a 'Congress-mukt Bharat',” Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, “Though it’s an internal matter of the Congress, but if such a decision is taken, the country will move ahead in the direction of a Congress-free India.”

“Till yesterday, Sonia Gandhi was referring to Prime Minister Modi as a ‘shahenshah’ and today, we are hearing the news of her shehzada’s (prince) coronation. The entire nation now is watching what the ‘shahenshaiyat’ (dynastic politics) actually is,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.

"We are a national party. There are certain procedures...When it comes to Sonia and Rahul we all wholeheartedly accept (their leadership)... We all want Rahul to take over, as and when (it will happen), we will make a proper statement," Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev said.

Reports were doing the rounds that the decision to elevate Rahul may be announced at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) within ten days. Sources said Rahul’s elevation will be accompanied by a major organisational shake-up.

Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh has said that the time is right for Rahul to take over the mantle of the party from his mother.

By Premji