Rahul Gandhi: A political novice or a national leader?

The Congress party members are doing their best to project Rahul Gandhi as their next prime ministerial candidate. Soon after a major Cabinet reshuffle, the Congress held a massive party rally at Ramlila ground in the capital city on Nov. 4. The rally, a show of strength for the Congress, drew over a hundred thousand people from different parts of the country. A tactic move, it was meant for countering charges of corruption being levied against the party, as also its failure to check inflation.
But, the political card that Congress played in the mega rally was to project Rahul as an important leader. It was the first time that Rahul shared stage with Congress high command Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Ramlila ground. Undeniably, Rahul has shared stage with these two and other senior party leaders earlier too but not at Ramlila ground. Besides, this was the first occasion when Rahul addressed the party’s mega rally from here.
Not surprisingly, shortly after the rally concluded, several senior Congress leaders started speaking highly of Rahul Gandhi as a very important leader. If Sonia Gandhi is the most important party leader, the No. 2 position is held by Rahul, if these Congress members are to believe. Undeniably, this opinion has been circulating within the party and other political circles for quite sometime. Earlier, the concerned politicians would silently speculate on the political future of Rahul and the Congress party. Now, they have begun openly announcing the stature of Rahul within the party to apparently set the political stage for Rahul to head the next Congress-led government. This of course depends on the party’s success in the 2014 parliamentary elections.
The question is, are other parties within the alliance and rest of the country also ready to accept Rahul as a prime minister? After all, his political credentials draw support from the Congress party only. What has Rahul really proved by addressing the Congress members at the party’s mega rally?
There are no two opinions about his being an important Congress leader. However, he held this political stature earlier too, but there is no denying the fact that he had not been so openly elevated to the number two rank in the party, that seems to be Congress members’ key political strategy at present. This probably explains the sudden decision of the party to hold a mega rally, giving opposition parties virtually no time to deliberate on their respective strategies to puncture this political move of the Congress. The rally was deliberately held to present Rahul before the country as a national leader. The Congress is keen on readying the national platform for Rahul.
Interestingly, the Congress has not been earlier engaged in political preparations as elaborately as it appears to be working for Rahul to take command as the prime minister. The country’s first prime minister, late Jawaharlal Nehru (Rahul’s great grandfather) did not waste any time in letting others know of his decision to head the first government formed after India gained independence. His daughter Indira Gandhi did not take long to take command over the Congress party, giving others little time to deliberate on their prospects of heading the government. The lady was keen on passing on the political reins to her younger son, Sanjay. Yet, before she could, Sanjay died in an airplane crash forcing the elder son, Rajiv (Rahul’s father) to step onto the political field. When Indira was assassinated, it seemed that Rajiv had no choice but step onto the national stage, which he did. Whether by turn of fate, as was the case with Rajiv or their own political will as well as calculations, as those exercised by Nehru and Indira, these Congress leaders did not hesitate in moving forward to center-stage of Indian politics.
Had Sonia not been a foreign-born citizen, prospects of her heading the country as a prime minister would not have faced much opposition. Nevertheless, at present, she is the most powerful person in Congress-led coalition government. She heads the coalition, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and is also the Congress president. Against the political prowess exercised by Sonia, Rahul certainly appears to be a novice. Definitely, Rahul has been accepted by the Congress as their number two leader. But then, this stand has not yet been taken by allies of Congress in UPA. It is as yet too early to expect them to display their support for Rahul as easily as has been done by Congress members.
Undeniably, Congress is a strong national party. Yet, it cannot be ignored that it is in power with the support of its allies. The Congress is no longer as strong a party as it was several decades ago when it headed the government on its own strength. During that period, the other parties were too weak and small in number to form a strong opposition. This is no longer the case. Besides, today’s voter is fairly well-versed with the country’s politics through television and other means of communication. It may not be difficult task for Rahul to get substantial media-coverage. However, there is no guarantee that the same will get translated into votes.
Doubtless, by stepping onto the national stage Rahul has indicated that he is ready for the major political task ahead. The Congress is behind him and Sonia has given him the green signal. These are, however, only indicators of the party having taken a major step forward that of projecting Rahul as prime ministerial candidate. Now, it is to be watched whether Congress remains united in promoting this move and whether this receives support of other UPA allies or not.
After all, just a speech addressed to the party from a national platform cannot decide Rahul’s political fate. It is going to be a wait and watch political game till next parliamentary elections are held. Only time and the vote will ultimately reveal Rahul’s political stature: Is he just a Congress party leader or has he been accepted as a national leader?