India's Congress can't wait for the son to rise

BY Y. P. RAJESH

HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) - Giant banners festooning this south India city proclaim the hopes of the ruling Congress party - "Country needs RAHUL: Reformist, Accomplished, Honest, Upcoming, Leadership."

Rahul Gandhi, a shy lawmaker and son of Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, might attribute some of the qualities his supporters credit him with, to political flattery.

But the growing clamour to elevate the latest political entrant from India's famed Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to a powerful party panel, symbolising his anointment as the heir-apparent, has put tremendous pressure on Congress leaders.

Activists want Rahul to be appointed to the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's apex decision-making panel, during a three-day party plenary in Hyderabad that began on Saturday.

"It is time Rahul takes on a formal role, either in the party or the government. It is inevitable," said Aruna Kumar, a Congress lawmaker from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

"Congress needs a glamorous leader and he has the charisma. He will make a great difference to the party," he said.

Congress supporters strongly believe that Rahul, 35, will eventually go on to become India's prime minister.

The 120-year-old party has ruled India for 46 years since the country won freedom from British colonial rule in 1947.

The Nehru-Gandhi family - not related to freedom movement leader Mahatma Gandhi - has had a stranglehold over Congress from its inception. Rahul's father, grandmother and great grandfather have together been prime ministers for 37 years.

Such has been their domination over the party and country that most Congress activists cannot think of a future without a Nehru-Gandhi descendant at the helm.

Rahul, who studied development economics in Britain and worked as a financial consultant in London before returning to India to start a computer consultancy firm, made a surprise entry into politics.

He contested elections in 2004 from the family's traditional constituency in northern India to boost Congress's sagging fortunes.

He has since kept a low profile despite his party's surprising win in the national election, focusing mostly on his rural constituency of Amethi, studying development, farming and micro-credit and meeting experts.

Congress leaders admit there is a strong need to induct younger members into responsible positions to woo India's voters who are predominantly below the age of 35.

"They all want Rahul Gandhi to join Congress in a meaningful manner so that younger people would be more inspired to join and strengthen the hands of the Congress president Sonia Gandhi," Congress spokeswoman Ambika Soni said referring to demands within the party.

The articulate newcomer has maintained a diplomatic silence over the issue except for occasionally saying he would learn politics at his own pace.

"He thinks he is not yet ready. He thinks he still has to learn a lot," Sandeep Dikshit, a young Congress MP who has frequently interacted closely with Rahul, told Reuters.

"But I think he is ready. We need young leaders because the older generation sometimes does not understand the urgency of the young," he said. Some analysts agreed.

"There's never a right time for hardcore politics. It is completely unclear what Rahul is waiting for," said Mahesh Rangarajan, an independent political analyst.

"The longer he waits to make his entry, the tougher it's going to become. If he intends to get to the other shore he has to jump into the water and swim."