Rahul Gandhi’s emotional speech conquers the hearts of partymen

Newly appointed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi struck an emotional chord with his supporters and senior party leaders when he explained how he went through the pain and tribulation of seeing his childhood badminton partners kill his grandmother Indira Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi said as a "little boy", he had learnt to play badminton at then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's residence with two securitymen. He liked to shuffle feet in badminton courts in search of balance in the complicated world. "They were my friends. Then one day, they killed my grandmother and took way the balance in my life," he said.

Rahul Gandhi's maiden address drifted from hard-nosed idealism to moving sentimentalism, a combination that had the auditorium in splits and roars, only to bring it to tears to conclude the session. The young leader also disclosed his mother's mixed feelings at his elevation on Saturday, at once happy at having persuaded the hesitant son to take the big leap but possibly terrified by what she had suffered.

"Last night, my mother came to my room and she cried. Why did she cry? She cried because she understands that the power so many people seek its actually a poison she can see it," he said, urging the leaders that power was best not chased for kicks but used to empower the weak.

The delivery and narrative was unbridled sentimentalism melted the Indians and the Congressmen present. He sought to remove the doubts about his persisting 'reluctant prince' image by saying there was no turning back after taking the big leap. "I like to end again by saying that for me the Congress party is now my life," said Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi also stressed for the need to respond to aspirations of young, impatient India seeking a voice in "nation's future". He said the solution lay in changing the system rather than improvising it. He mocking of the fake champions fostered by political process evoked loud guffaws. "People who are corrupt stand up and talk about eradicating corruption... and people who disrespect women everyday of their life... talk about women's rights," he said.