New Delhi: The Grand Old Party of India was glowing in the radiance of youth power as Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi took charge as a General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee amid much celebration and anticipation on Tuesday.
The Gen-next leader from Indian politics' first family, walked the short distance from the adjoining 10, Janpath residence of his mother and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to the party office for a brief interaction with senior leaders and other office-bearers.
37-year-old Rahul was accompanied by his mother to the party office, where a room, currently occupied by senior leader Janardan Dwivedi, was being readied for him. He went to Gandhi's room also.
Rahul’s introduction to the senior leaders took place in the committee room of the party and the short meeting was dominated by discussions on India’s victory in the inaugural T-20 World Cup and comparisons were drawn between the AICC reshuffle and the young team under MS Dhoni.
“The spirit of youth was reflected on Monday when Rahul Gandhi took over an important position and Dhoni and his team delivered a magnificent victory to India,” AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.
“I have no doubt that Rahul Gandhi will return the compliment by decisively winning the next big match,” he said.
A senior leader remarked how on the very day the Congress brought in a young team into its top brass, a young Indian team won the World Cup in cricket’s newest version. It was an informal interaction and all the leaders welcomed Rahul into the party leadership, a senior leader said.
Rahul himself did not interact with the media and immediately left for the 7, Race Course Road residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a courtesy call on him. There also he did not talk to reporters.
Earlier in the day, Rahul had called on Home Minister Shivraj Patil.
A large number of party activists had gathered at the party office to welcome Rahul, and they erupted into slogans like Hamara Neta Kaisa Ho, Rahul Gandhi Jaisa Ho and Rahul Gandhi Zindabad, Sonia Gandhi Zindabad as soon as they saw him.
‘Heir-apparent' Rahul was made a General Secretary and a CWC member in a major reshuffle in the Congress on Tuesday. Besides these, he was also included in the publicity committee and a new ‘Group to Look into Future Challenges’.
Besides Rahul, the other young leaders who have found places in the AICC secretariat include Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ajay Maken, Priya Dutt, Milind Deora, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasad and Sandeep Dikshit.
(With UNI inputs)
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