2 things.
1. You are now saying Rahul Gandhi's leadership potential is due to SP winning Gorakhpur seat in a by-election. Going by this logic, Akhilesh should be a better candidate to take over the Congress. He has been a CM, successully fought of dissent from strongmen withing the SP, displayed his political acumen by making peace with Mayawati and lately told the Congress to accept what is provided in 2019 in UP. Hell, Kejriwal is better. He won Delhi, gave a tough fight in Punjab and is actually doing work. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi does what he does best. Getting Congress beaten everywhere. I swear, he is the best asset the BJP has ever had.
2. When you start using a by-election, won by another party, to rationalise the position of a President of a national party and that too the Congress, the writing is on the wall. The regional parties are going to make mince meat out of you. Forget the BJP. Your main existential threat is going to come from the SP,BSP and TMC.
FYI, have worked very closely with behind the scenes top Congressmen from 2008 to 2013 years in Tilak bhavan and Gandhi Bhuvan in Mumbai. Am still in good touch with them. So that should tell you, how much of a *censored* I am. And let me assure you, their logic resonates with what I am saying. Till Pappu is there, we cannot win. This is what they said. Not me.