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| Rahul as Congress GS, in the footsteps of his father | | | New Delhi | Sep 24
Rahul Gandhi's appointment as a General Secretary of Congress today is being compared to a similar move made by his grandmother giving his father and former premier--Rajiv Gandhi-- a party slot, both two to three years after getting elected to the Lok Sabha from Amethi.
Both Rahul and Rajiv were reluctant entrants to politics but were appointed General Secretaries by Sonia Gandhi and Indira Gandhi respectively before they turned 40. Three generations of Rahul's family have served as the country's prime minister.
Rajiv was made General Secretary on February 2,1983 after he won from Amethi on June 15, 1981. Rahul won from the same constituency in May 2004 General Elections. Signficantly both oversaw the affairs of the Youth Congress after being given party posts.
Born on June 19, 1970 to Rajiv and Sonia, the current Congress Chief, Rahul had earlier turned down appeals to play a more high-profile role in the party. But, his appointment is seen as following the footsteps of his father.
Rahul's electoral debut was described as a whiff of fresh air in the murky world of politics, just likeRajiv Gandhi. He is seen as a vivid reminder of the countenance and manner of his father, and techno savvy too, say Congress leaders.
A fifth generation scion of the Nehru-Gandhi lineage that is synonymous with the country's 119-year-old Congress party, Rahul is often tipped as a future prime minister.
Before his electoral debut, Rahul, who grew up in the shadow of overwhelming security after his father's assassination,has been described as shy and genteel, more interested in the outdoors and cricket matches than the hurly burly of Indian politics. (MORE)
Rahul had once remarked "I am not averse to politics, but that does not mean that I am going to join politics." As a result, his decision to contest the 2004 elections had taken a lot of workers in his Congress party as well as political analysts, by surprise.
With talk of mid-term polls gaining momentum, Sonia's decision to give some responsibility to Rahul is being seen as an attempt to project a new youthful image and give a big boost to the party's fortunes in the coming days.
Rahul had played a major role in Congress' campaigning in elections in Uttar Pradesh this year. But the party failed to reverse its declining fortunes there.
Rahul's great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was independent India's first prime minister, and his grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi were both prime ministers.
The Congress-led UPA has been under tremendous pressure in the recent weeks from Left parties--the government's outside supporters-who have been threatening to end their support unless the government dropped the controversial Indo-US nuclear deal.
Rahul is often seen as the dark horse with a detailed knowledge of constituency profiles and a back room operator.
He went to the finest Indian schools and studied economics at foreign universities. He worked as a financial consultant in U.K before returning to India in 2001.
Rahul's appointment is also been seen as a move to energise the party's rank and file and attract young voters in a country where more than 60 per cent of people are under 35 years of age.
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