He’s been called the “Quiet Revolutionary“. And India’s prime minister-in-waiting. But does Rahul Gandhi, a virtual novice in the rough and tumble of Indian politics, have what it takes for the country’s top job?
He didn’t exactly set the house on fire during his first five years in parliament. And until this election, Rahul’s only USP was that he belonged to India’s first family, the Nehru-Gandhi family which has given the country three prime ministers.
He’s only 39, and has no experience with complex subjects such as Pakistan or the economy.
But after the recent election, Rahul has emerged as a savvy politician, a grassroots activist with a finger on the pulse of the real India.
His strategy of not allying with any of the regional parties in northern India despite pressure from party officials paid off big time.
The Congress party’s decision to go it alone in northern India helped it more than double its seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Initially, based just on his political strategy for this election, there was much speculation over whether he would join the cabinet, and if he did what portfolio he’d get.
Eventually, Rahul wasn’t a part of the cabinet, but he’s still seen as the face of the Congress party from now on — and perhaps prime minister at some point in the future.
But isn’t there a danger he could be sidelined if he isn’t part of the federal cabinet?
Sure, he has age on his side and he can learn over the next five years. Besides, like his father, Rajiv, he appeals to millions of young voters in India.
But he’s not alone in that sense. He is part of a new generation of young parliamentarians like Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia who have a completely new perspective on politics.
So the question many in India are asking is: could Rahul Gandhi be overshadowed by other younger politicians who are in the cabinet?
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RAHUL, INDIA NEEDS YOU, BUT TAKE YOUR OWN TIME TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE REALITIES AND PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES FOR LEADING INDIAN PEOPLE TOGETHER. YES, YOU CAN DO IT. BECAUSE THE TRUE INDIANS PRAY FOR IT
- Posted by BASHEERHi Rahul,
My feedback to our ministers is:
-> STOP Curreption from Top to Bottom
-> Provide gov jobs to GENERAL category in gujarat-umreth
-> Stop price changing formula in gujarat
-> Ask our all goverment employee to Respect the public who has selected to goverment and officer
petrol 1ltr-52.**
500grm milk - 13.**
and so on……
what is bigger than this..?
there are so many issues are here.
- Posted by Darshan.Thakardarshan.thakar
umreth/anand/gujarat
+919898517052
I was not talking about whether Rahul Gandhi can become PM or not…. I was just saying give him the time to prove himself.The people think he behaved like an actor but who are not in this politics. He belongs from nehru-gandhi family that is not his fault,if they did mistakes it is not true that he will also do.He is also a simple human being let him live his normal life.Don’t make an issues.He tries to bring all the youth together.He is just ten years old in politics.
- Posted by Meeta pahwaBest of luck.
hi i have naver saw such a great handsome,intelligent guy in politics,hoping to great success of the rahul in his ca rear. this is a gorgeous Indian. check your personality on http://www.gorgeousindian.com
- Posted by sunilYes This is what INDIA is consulting various heads for all the century.Family business is done at all times like TATA,BIRLA,…..Now Reliance.Why cant INDIA have something different than this.Call upon all the IAS officers and ask their views.This was once decided by the late rajiv gandhi for the indias strong politics.No wonder RAHUIL can become India’s PM but at this young age it is difficult to control the unwanted human error,which I can say “have the pleasure when you have the time to grab upon something”.Now the population does not have enough time to think as day by day prices are soaring and everyone is striving to live with their daily bread.There should be something written in the CONSTITUTION with very strict law for the politicians…
- Posted by T.V.RamkumarI was not talking about whether he can become PM or not… I was talking about whether he has the caliber or he is a man of straw like Gandhi, Nehru and the clan and whether we should actively go for 49 O which is right to reject in order to float a democracy which produces leadership of caliber
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rahul-gandhi- becomes-the-new-gay-icon/93307-3.html
- Posted by RohitAll said and done, I think he has the potential to be the PM (when compared to the other aspirants)
- Posted by Joe ZachThe discussion we should have around is that we need the “RIGHT TO REJECT” in order to make our democratic system and politics more answerable to citizens of Nations
- Posted by RohitInstead of discussing whether Rahul is a PM material or not, wouldn’t it be better if can come up with a list of expectations that we want from PM material and see how many of those can be matched by Rahul?
The discussion will go on and on as each one has a different expectation from PM and they think Rahul is a PM material if he matches their expectations.
Anywayz, the following is an old article but take a look at it if interested in Nehru-China issue.
http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_chi na-india-and-the-fruits-of-nehru-s-folly _1101845
- Posted by SunnyFOLKS (Rajeev, Jey, Azad) where have all you gone! Let’s create a movement for “Right to Reject”. After all, our country deserves a leader much better that the mediocre men of straw produced by our current democratic system. Alternatively, you can still question me on viability of “Congress = Nehru Gandhi Family” for India… Let’s keep this post going!
- Posted by RohitVery good term brought by Aman to describe Rahul Gandhi “Theatrical”… Indira/ Rajeev used to tribal head gears and what not to fool Indians.
However, I do not believe that general people love dynastic politics. India has too much of population and poverty. When resources are less than population to be sustained, people get exploited. Population, combined with lack of awareness is biggest problem in propping up a universal leader. Congress has a culture of dynastic politics because it suits party as a whole. Gandhis are more of propaganda material and less of substance. It is evident from days of MK Gandhi. Indian politicians are opportunistic by nature. Politics was introduced in this country by Britishers when Congress was formed in 1885. The entire history of Congress is of opportunism. Freedom was also sought only when Britishers were weakened by 2nd World War. Only under leadership of propaganda and less of substance, a set of opportunistic politicians can exploit situation. Congress as a party has indulged only in loot, rape, murder and pillage of country after propping a name Gandhi, time and again.
Congress set a standard of cheap politics (of divide and rule) for nation which was further exploited by Muslim League, then Janta Dal, numerous regional parties. Now, in this recent elections, muslims formed muslim political parties which, ultimately, again (Like in 1940’s) lead to cry for division of India.
- Posted by RohitREAD
“which leader, has gained prominence in Congress when Gandhi’s were not in scene?”
AS
“which leader, has gained prominence in Congress when Gandhi’s were active in Congress?”
HAVING SAID ALL THAT I HAVE, GOOD LEADERSHIP WILL NOT EMERGE IN INDIA TILL “RIGHT TO REJECT” IS GIVEN TO INDIANS.
We need to reject the current leaders of India… They are good for nothing. Almost all leaders get elected based on vote bank politics of religion, caste, region, language. Counting non casted votes as rejection, after giving bogus votes a weightage among casted votes, not much is there on leadership front of India. Once people are given right to reject, politicians will automatically start to address issues of Nation or perish. At present, the politicians do not have the fear of perishing and they indulge in all sort of cheap politics to come to power. Politicians in name of developing nation, develop themselves and create multi million dollar worth of property by their life time. Politicians are not answerable to anyone… Not even law… Politician can use law enforcing agencies to screw life of persons… Politicians screw around with the tax I pay and promote Haj, conversions of Hindus. With vote to reject, we can expect better politics. After all, India do deserve to reject bad politics and politicians.
- Posted by RohitRajeev,
It is not possible to change certain things. Like the country you are born in. When I said the above things, it means more for common persons of India like a rickshaw driver other daily wage earners, not for persons who have the luxury of blogging everyday. On personal note, if I get a chance, to move into a country with decent social structure, I would surely prefer to move out of this country for good and for ever. But as long as one lives in this country, there is nothing but to loath about everything in this country on a daily basis. Move out and observe (Eg., a journey by train, watching surroundings, every time it enters/ leaves a City) and you will know what is there to be proud about.
Shashi Tharoor is unimpressive… Zero caliber for a leader… Ordinary orator, topped with sophisticated communication, never seen him speaking language of common persons… I don’t think that he will ever be known by common Indian even after his current five year term with Congress in Government like name Gandhi, Laloo or Advani is known… Forget common Indians, he won’t be able to cultivate followers in his own party. In future, the best he can be is to become another Chiddu who, if gets out of Congress, and fights on own, would be able to retain only his seat and nothing else.
Coming down to Shashi Tharoor, use some common sense and answer, which leader, has gained prominence in Congress when Gandhi’s were not in scene?
Only one… Morarji Desai but he was fooled by Mr K Kamraj of Congress; K Kamraj was fooled by Nehru and Kamraj was in turn dumped unceremoniously by Indira once he made her undisputed leader of Congress.
The story is interesting… Post China war debacle, Congress was facing big time downturn in fortunes. So Mr K Kamraj introduced Kamraj Plan in which Congressis fooled people of India by spreading lies. In 1964, Nehru died a natural death (which you believe was China effect) but before death (after hearing Kamraj plan), Nehru called in Kamraj to Delhi and made him president of Congress with vow to promote his good for nothing daughter, Indira Gandhi. Mr Desai had the best chance to lead India after Nehru’s death but Kamraj fooled him and Shashti got elected. By the time Shashtri died, Kamraj had built Indira’s image (propaganda image… Similar to what you still see in Congress for Gandhis) and Mr Desai had been weakened. Mr Desai again rose to fight after Mr Shashtri’s death but the timing went wrong as he had been weakened by Mr Kamraj and Indira won the majority. The first thing Indira did after becoming the prime minister, was to sideline Kamraj and destroyed his standing in Congress. Kamraj left party, and died after a period of non glorious fading years leading to his demise. It seems ironical to me that the person who helped build Nehru Gandhi family after 1962 war died a death which deserved to be for Nehru.
The same story was repeated with Sitaram Kesri recently and both Sitaram and Kamraj had one thing in common… They belonged to backward class.
Would you still bet on Shashi Tharoor?
- Posted by RohitRahul Gandhi is only as good a prime minister material as I am or any other person blogging over here. There is nothing extra ordinary about him. He is not a good orator, which is one of the most important qualities to be a true leader. He has theatrical abilities (sleeping in a hut, in a dalit’s home is theatrical. If he had done something substantial like providing reservations to economically weaker sections rather than the caste based reservations then i would have considered him true champions of dalits). He has learned from experience (watching his mom) that by being behind the scenes he can exert influence over policy making becuase he has the Gandhi surname and he can bid his time reorganizing the party (at which he has been successful) so that when the congress truly has the numbers then he can be the PM.
As for the author’s question could it be that Rahul Gandhi be over shadowed?…
- Posted by AmanWhat a foolish question… Isn’t the author reading newspapers? All the leaders, big and small, old and young (including the likes of Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia have been rooting for Rahul to become the PM)..
Does she think that Sonia gandhi will ever let that happen and on top of it all Priyanka Gandhi (who has a lot more charisma than Rahul) will support her kid bro to be the PM.
If Rahul Gandhi brings about equality for all as it should be (reservations only for economically weaker sections, universal civil code [that is true secularism....isn't it?]) and at the same time can help improve the infrastructure of the country and provide a climate of good business opportunity then he has the qualities of a good PM.
Else he will just be any other PM (there is no doubt that he will be a PM one day) with the Gandhi surname.
Yes it is dynastic politics and it so because indians love dynasties… It is the people who elcted them so if it is a monarchy then it people who voted for them who needs to be blamed not the guy who is running for a post.
Only when people are properly educated and also have the ability to look beyond the text books then we will be able to find a true leader.
Rohit
“”"It is a curse to be born in this country, for majority of people of this nation live to die, meeting their daily basic needs. Only thieves, liars and corrupt people survive where there are people more than the resources of nation.”"
–Despite all what you say, you seem to be thinking about India rather than quit thinking about it. Are you living in India that you face day to day problems and you have no way out? Have you envisoned living in China for life since it has progressed so much–better than US growth? If not, why not? Just asking.
Also I posted about Shashi Tharoor, what’s ur thoughts him as PM?
- Posted by rajeevJEY SUBRAMANINA,
With due respect to you and your political affiliation,
Can you tell me which issues on which elections were fought, have been solved… You can go right from 1947 and onwards?
Can you predict when will the issues get solved… Take another century or millennium. However, I can tell you that there are few remedies for a mismanaged nation like a long war, high inflation, long term of natural disaster.
Those who had to develop have already developed. For your kind information, if you do some researching on what is contribution of Indian companies in economy of India, it may be an eye opener for you.
There is point in blaming system for the system has failed to produce any result and will continue to do so for next millennium.
The exceptional leaders of Congress are not recognized beyond their territory and cannot survive on own. A research on role of Scindias during British Rule may serve good to you… You can add in MK Gandhi too… Read Richard Griener’s article.
If someone is to be blamed about the present situation, I am not to be blamed. It is a curse to be born in this country, for majority of people of this nation live to die, meeting their daily basic needs. Only thieves, liars and corrupt people survive where there are people more than the resources of nation.
Lastly, do not preach me to vote for a choice between politicians, parties with varying degree of evil. I will vote when I get the “Right to Reject”.
- Posted by Rohit