Keeping followers of all kinds engaged and happy is no mean task for any political leader, especially in the midst of the election season heat. But Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi made Saturday a day to remember for at least one of his ardent supporters.
In a season in which many party workers would be typically seeking a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election, all that this 22-year-old student activist from Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district wanted was the jacket Mr. Gandhi was wearing. Perhaps finding it the easiest wish that he could ever grant, Mr. Gandhi took off his beige-colour half jacket without a moment’s thought, according to those who witnessed the incident outside 10 Janpath, the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Around 300 workers of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the party’s student wing, were in the compound when Mr. Gandhi was walking out after attending the party’s Central Election Committee meeting in the afternoon. The workers, who were waiting to get a photograph clicked with Ms. Sonia Gandhi, wanted one with Mr. Gandhi too. “Mr. Gandhi was rushing out to some other engagement. He said he had no time for the photo, but asked what else would make them happy,” said Roji M. John, vice-president, NSUI.
Kishok Gugan, from Tamil Nadu, was quick to seek the memento off the leader’s back. His wish granted, he lost no time in posting a photo on Twitter, wearing the new jacket. The Gandhi-Nehru scion had obviously made his day.
Mr. Gandhi’s great grandfather and India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru used to throw garlands into the crowd, a gesture that people would go ecstatic over. Mr. Gandhi has styled himself after Nehru in many aspects.
