The fact that Sonia Gandhi, Raebareli’s kinder mother, formally transferred the baton of Congress party president to her son, Rahul Gandhi, is a testament to the dramatic change of guard at the country’s top political power.
As she looked at a punching crowd, Mrs.Gandhi conveyed the same trust she had in her son, Rahul. She advised people to give the kind of love they had given her when she was the same as her son now.
“I am, Mrs. Gandhi,” she said, then handed over her son. “It’s you,” the audience shouted in an uproar. “His way of holding me close to his chest, not impeding me, that I am his; let me do the same for Rahul. He won’t be able to displease.
Rahul does not represent only himself but also his family, having been born into a long line of political dynasties despite being 53 years old. His family has represented the same constituency, the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat, for more than five terms, during which it has been represented by his mother.
Sonia Gandhi, who went to the Rajya Sabha this year, said she was very happy to revisit the people she has loved and connected with over a long period of time after the by-poll.
“I have been elderly for 20 years, a member of Parliament. This has been the highest key of my life,”
she strongly said her voice laced with emotion.
Rahul Gandhi was the strongest advocate not only for his mother but also for his sister Priyanka, highlighting the importance of family being closely connected. “Raebareli is a family, same as it is also Amethi house.”
The seat of Raebareli Lok Sabha has a long history, as Indira Gandhi and her grandfather, Feroze Gandhi, once ran for the same seat. The phase of direct polling will be conducted in Raebareli and the closely positioned Amethi constituency on 20th May, in the fifth installment of the National Assembly elections.
