Amid growing voices calling for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to lead the Congress following Rahul Gandhi’s resignation, veteran leader Karan Singh has said she will be a “unifying force” and will enthuse cadres if she takes on the mantle of party president.

He also said the Congress has “definitely been harmed” due to the indecision over the leadership issue and cautioned that remaining “headless” can be “seriously detrimental” to the party going forward.

“One cannot leave the party headless. It is not fair to the Congress,” said Singh, a close associate of the Gandhi family who has been in the party for over 50 years.Meanwhile, the party announced on Sunday that the CWC will meet on August 10. The party had said earlier that the CWC will meet after the Parliament session ends next Wednesday.

In an interview to PTI, Singh agreed with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor’s views aired recently that a young leader will be more suitable as a replacement of Rahul Gandhi.

The former Union minister said Priyanka Gandhi will certainly be able to enthuse the people in the party and will be an asset as Congress chief.
Singh also asserted that the process for putting in place a new president should be strictly according to the party Constitution.

His remarks assume significance as they come after Amarinder Singh and Tharoor both backed Priyanka to throw her hat into the ring when the call for Congress presidency polls is made.

“Baffled” over the “state of indecision” in the party, Singh on Saturday said there are some very senior people in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and they should have come together earlier and done something about the situation arising out of Rahul Gandhi’s resignation.

Asked about growing voices within the Congress calling for Priyanka Gandhi to take over as party chief, Karan Singh said it has to be her decision and if she agrees to take up the responsibility, he will welcome it.

Asked if Priyanka Gandhi would be a suitable candidate for Congress president, Singh said, “Considering the situation and considering that she belongs to this family, she will probably be a unifying force”. How well Priyanka Gandhi does as Congress president, remains to be seen, he added.

“She is a very intelligent young lady. She did well on the Sonbhadra issue when she went there . She speaks well, she has got a good personality, carries herself well. So yes, if she agrees, then why not,” Singh said.

On their remarks about a young leader being more suitable to take on the mantle of party president, he said there has been a generational change in the country with which one has to adjust and accept.

“Therefore, prima facie if we can get a younger leader, it would be a good idea. I back their view if we get a suitable young leader. There must be a generational change. Rahul (as party chief) himself was a generational change,” the former governor of Jammu and Kashmir said.

“If Priyanka Vadra is agreeable, elect her. If not then elect somebody else. Then get on with the job according to the Congress constitution. They cannot carry on like this. This will be seriously detrimental to the party,” he said.