Rahul Gandhi strikes emotional chord in his first speech as Congress VP

Rahul Gandhi, in his maiden speech as Congress Vice President, struck an emotional note in calling for a transformation of the existing system. He said his mother came to his room in the night after naming him party vice-president and wept.

“She cried because she understands that power is actually a poison,” he said. “She could see what it could do to people around... We should not chase power for attributes of power. We should only see it to empower the voices,” the young Congress MP.

The two-day Congress’ chintan shivir attended by some 350 party leaders and the larger session on Sunday were to take stock of challenges before the party and prepare it for the electoral tests in the coming months.

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi called on the party rank and file to work hard and close ranks ahead of the forthcoming elections. “There is no reason that we should not return to power if Congress men work hard in unity,” Sonia Gandhi said on the final day of the party’s conclave.

Sonia Gandhi added that she will personally ensure the passage of legislation to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Remembering the Delhi gang-rape victim, Sonia Gandhi, who devoted the initial part of her speech to gender issues, said her death “will not go in vain”.

The Jaipur declaration, released after the meeting, emphasized the need for repositioning and reorganizing the party based on ideology and issues in preparation for the national election. “The Congress recognizes that there is a new aspiration for advancement among the people, especially among the youth and the middle class,” the declaration said.

“The Congress pledges to speak for both the young middle-class India and the young deprived India. The party will be responsive to the new aspirations of the youth and will offer credible policies and programmes for them especially job creating programmes,” it said.