Polls ahead, Rahul drops China trip

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi has decided to cancel a week-long visit to China because of upcoming elections in five states, particularly the fluid situation in Uttar Pradesh where a possible tie-up with the Samajwadi Party has delayed selection of candidates. Rahul was scheduled to lead a Congress delegation for a party-to-party interaction with the Communist Party of China and the tour was to begin on January 15 - less than three weeks before Punjab and Goa vote on February 4. While the campaign is peaking in these two states, Uttar Pradesh will vote over seven phases beginning February 11. Uttarakhand votes on February 15 and Manipur on March 4 and 8. Sources said Congress leader Anand Sharma wrote to the Chinese leadership two days ago requesting that the tour be rescheduled because of the polls. The letter explained that the poll dates were not known when the tour was decided. The sources said the hosts agreed to fix a convenient date after the electoral process got over in March. While Rahul's presence in Delhi is essential for deciding strategies and selection of candidates, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who looks after party affairs in Uttar Pradesh, was also part of the delegation, apart from Sharma, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kumari Selja, Rajiv Satav and Sushmita Dev. Sonia Gandhi had earlier led a Congress delegation to China in 2007. Party sources said it was almost impossible for Rahul to leave Delhi now. While most of the candidates for Goa and Punjab were decided on Thursday, the party's central election committee is expected to meet for Uttar Pradesh only after clarity emerges on the possible tie-up with the ruling Samajwadi Party. The sources said although there was an understanding between Rahul and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, there were many imponderables because of the internal complexities in the squabble-racked heartland party. The Election Commission is expected to give its verdict on the Samajwadi's dispute tomorrow but sources said the confusion would increase if the party's "cycle" symbol were frozen. While the Akhilesh group is confident of retaining the symbol, it appears to have readied a fallback plan just in case the symbol is frozen or given to the other faction in case of a split. Sources said all these things would be sorted out within the next three to four days. In Punjab, one major pending issue was sorted out on Thursday with Navjyot Singh Sidhu meeting Rahul at his residence this afternoon. Although the party did not reveal what transpired at the meeting, the cricketer-turned-politician is expected to join the Congress tomorrow, either in Chandigarh or in Amritsar, in the presence of state unit chief Amarinder Singh. On Thursday, the Congress vice-president also met leaders from states who had come here to participate in yesterday's Jan Vedna Sammelan, a party conclave to highlight the pain of demonetisation. The meeting took place at Sonia's 10 Janpath residence, but the Congress chief chose not to be present, probably to reinforce the message that Rahul would now look after the party and nobody should nurture any doubts about his elevation. After any national convention, it is customary for the party president to meet the delegates from every state. Even yesterday it was clear that the entire Congress had stepped forward to embrace the new leader. No leader named Sonia in their speeches but lavished praise on Rahul. Ahmed Patel, the most powerful person in the old system and probably the voice of the older generation, almost declared the change when he said in his speech "the party will move forward under Rahul's leadership and Sonia's inspiration". The hint was clear: the curtain was coming down on the Sonia era in the Congress