Rahul Gandhi’s assertion that his priority is to strengthen the organisation and not run for Prime Minister is per se unexceptionable. No leader of any standing would publicly place his own ambitions above the party. Nor can Rahul of his own accord admit to being in the prime ministerial race. Yet by holding up Mahatma Gandhi as his role model and extolling the virtues of detachment, the Congress vice-president has signalled a reluctance to wield power should he be faced with the eventuality. The ambiguity in this cannot but unsettle the Congress rank and file, which has since Independence looked to the family to provide leadership, and assumed by force of habit that the fifth-generation Nehru-Gandhi would take his rightful place when the time came. The confusion and disillusionment will be the greater for coinciding with the penultimate phase of the United Progressive Alliance’s crisis-ridden second term. With just a year to go for the general election, the ruling coalition needs more than ever to appear coherent and united. Any dithering at this time can only be to the advantage of the principal Opposition, where there is already a buzz around Narendra Modi. Congresspersons are bound to be grappling with some hard questions. If Rahul is in no mood to embrace power politics, then why did he agree to be number two in a party where the number one has ruled herself out of the prime ministerial stakes?
There was logic in the presumption that Rahul’s elevation was a precursor to his projection as the Congress’s prime ministerial candidate. Rahul surely would not have waited eight long years to accept a party post of such obvious significance if he meant to throw in the towel when the bigger opportunity came. All indications were to the effect that reluctant as he was, Rahul would eventually bite the bullet, if only out of a sense of duty towards his ‘inheritance’ — India’s largest political party. Indeed, Rahul’s emotional speech at the Congress’s Jaipur plenary was all about fulfilling a moral obligation: “My mother came to my room and cried because she understands power is poison,” he had said. An outsider watching all this might want to ask why the clan cannot once and for all sever the umbilical cord that links it to the Congress. For, as long as the family is in active politics it will find itself inescapably under pressure to lead the party. Rahul’s problem is that he wants to democratise a Congress brought up on dynasty. But his mere presence is enough to foster sycophancy. The Congress and its First Family should resolve this dilemma soon or find themselves left behind in the coming big battle.
Keywords: Rahul Gandhi, Congress, 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Sonia Gandhi
@Deependra: I absolutely agree with you. It is shocking that some
would actually justify dynastic politics where one would inherit
his/her parents' position of power without having to justify the
position on merits. It is one thing a doctor handing off his/her
practice to the son or daughter (of course after the person is
qualified to practice medicine) but it is another when it comes to top
position in Congress party or state of India. Neither are family
property or inheritance that one can pass on from generation to
generation, if we do then that is called kingdom or dynasty power by
any other name. Is Rahul Gandhi the best qualified person to lead
Congress or UPA govt? What is his track record in leadership or
governance?
One does not know if Rahul's professed reluctance to embrace power politics is just a strategy to project himself as the only politician in India who is not hungry for power or a desire to continue the present dyarchial system of the first family nominating the Prime Minister. If the latter is true, there would be a possibility of Dr. Manmohan Singh continuing as the PM for one more term. I do not think that it would be in the interest of the country to extend the tenure of the present PM by one more term. The Congress will have to find a suitable replacement.
Like Rajiv Gandhi who was reluctantly cordoned into politics by his
mother, Rahul wants to give the impression of being a reluctant player
for the interests of the nation. He wants to project an image of one who
has renounced his all for the party and the nation. He has read the
Indian psyche well. What he doesn't know is that Indians can see through
his facade .
@Hari Subramanian: There is nothing wrong in a doctor wishing for his
son to become a doctor. But if the doctor decides that after him his son
will take over his practice without going to medical school then it is
wrong. Same rule applies for Rahul Gandhi and even to a member of gram
panchayat. Morover, doctors, lawyers, potters etc. they run a family
business. I don't think that you can compare it with a country. India is
not a family business but a public entity. So dynastic politics by
Congress or any other party must be questioned.
@Ashu: you take cake man when it comes to pithy comments... You said
exactly right about a certain unemployed yet independently rich youth of
42 years who would much rather have a good time in Europe or the
Americas but for the compulsions of a family inheritance and sycophantic
adulations of the hanger-ons.
Bhishm Pitamah of Mahabharat had taken a similar vow .
First of all, this article is an exemplary retortion to those who think that Hindu indulges in Modi bashing(exclusively). Moreover, I think the perspective from which Rahul Gandhi has been projected is watertight.
Reiterating the point that experts put forward, Mr.Gandhi needs to take ownership of his responsible position. Enjoying benefits of a legacy, implies that he cannot abdicate the pseudo-throne without putting up a show. Shirking from such an endeavour is the main motive. Rest of the holy discourses on ethics, morality and poisonous power a secondary agenda, to say the least.
Whether it is Sonia or Rahul, it is Power without accountability and back seat driving. I am not sure why one should cry whether Rahul accepts PM post or not, if it comes. We have other better alternatives including Modi and others.
"the Congress vice-president has signalled a reluctance to wield power"
Rahul's decision is commendable. His pary has to look beyond the "ruling dynasty" for leadership. It is shame that while the Congress Party under Pandit Nehru embraced democracy in 1947, the same party has now embraced dynastic rule.
I fail to understand why Rahul Gandhi is getting so much attention(that
too in editorials!) and by a credible-non-sensationalist newspaper like
The Hindu.
Last time I looked at Rahul Gandhi's resume, the only achievement I
could find was his last name.
May be he is testing the pulse of other leaders in the party, who might be itching to grab the top slot. Leaders like chidambaram can justifiably look forward for a greater role in the govt than merely be a follower. This hide and seek has kept the family in the forefront all these years and it is not going to go away easily.We only hope that he will always what his mother seemed to have told him crying that power is poison and hence would like to stay away from it in the future. That will be good for the party and the country.
Why no mention of Rahul's sacrifice to take the extreme action of
embracing celibacy - Bhishmacharya?! - to decimate the "curse" of
dynasty in Indian politics? The inuendo should not be missed. It is that
even if he refuses the crown, the ignorant Indian mass would one day
crown his unborn progeny. Priyanka may not take kindly to this!
I cannot understand why people are itching to say about motives of
other people. Please tell where is no dynastic thinking. Any
professional achiever -- doctor, lawyer, government employee (IAS or
not), potter, carpenter, shopkeeper, any business owner, etc. etc.--
train their children to become likewise. Even at panchayat levels,
elected people want their children to become so after their age is a disabling factor. They why talk about Rahul only. Dynastic principle is fostered not by descendents claiming it; it is fostered by people. Yes, sycophants may be there. But are they in a majority to perpetuate dynastic rule? If people don't like a person in an election, they need not vote. Let these columns, supposedly educative, write about responsibility of people to think clearly and not prejudicial thoughts.
[Yet by holding up Mahatma Gandhi as his role model and extolling the virtues of detachment, the Congress vice-president has signalled a reluctance to wield power should he be faced with the eventuality.]
You read too much into it. He has merely signalled that he is an airhead who mindlessly invokes tried and true political cliches that an equally airheaded political class and electorate ceased to think about ages ago, if ever.
The main problem with Rahul Gandhi is that he is forced to take informed decisions. He had already learned that in no way congress is going to garner majority in upcoming election. Bearing a prime role he is reluctant to add more feather in his cap like UP election. So he is shying away from taking responsibility. Indian politics is not a cake walk and he knows it very well.He wants to remain in lime light but does not want to take responsibility of losing.
Your sage advice may be said as: vacate the throne or remove the Sword of Democles
hanging from up above! Fantastic.
Raghuram Ekambaram
Whether Rahul want to become PM or marry is his problem. There are so many issues in this country which are crying for attention. The rampant institutionalised corruption, unemployment, poor standard of education, outdated laws, poor water management, power shortage, no rule of law etc etc Why should The Hindu waste an editorial space on trivial matters.
I wonder why the only profession known to Nehru clan is politics. Is it so compulsive. Why
they not seek other avenues and help shape India and congress to stand on its own legs.
The pity is especially congress clinging to the crutches of the family.
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