Rahul Gandhi

An emerging force in Indian politics

Rahul Gandhi is an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress (INC) party. He has been appointed as the Vice President of INC. He also serves as the Chairperson of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India (NSUI). He has been elected to Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament (MP) for three terms. Rahul is part of the Nehru-Gandhi family and inherits much of its political legacy. Due to security reasons, Rahul had to spend a significant part of his youth away from media glare. During his academic pursuits, he used to study under a pseudonym and his real identity was known only to a select few. Rahul joined mainstream politics a bit late in his life, after party veterans and youth leaders suggested a larger role for him in party matters and political affairs at the state and national level.

Early Life and Education

Rahul Gandhi was born in Delhi on Jun 19, 1970 to Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. He has studied at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, Harvard College and Rollins College, Florida from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He completed his M. Phil. in Development Studies from Trinity College, Cambridge University. Rahul is unmarried and is counted among the most eligible bachelors in India.

Political Career

Rahul Gandhi joined mainstream politics in 2004, when he contested Lok Sabha elections from his father’s former constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. He won the election with a margin of approximately 100,000 votes, thereby retaining the party’s stronghold and establishing his leadership capabilities. As per INC’s calculations, Rahul’s entry into mainstream politics would reinvigorate the Congress party’s political fortunes among India’s youthful population. Rahul Gandhi has actively campaigned for the party at state and national level and has also been part of various protests and agitations for social causes.

2004: Elected to 14th Lok Sabha

• Member, Standing Committee on Home Affairs
• Member, Standing Committee on Human Resource Development

2009: Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha (2nd term)

• Member, Standing Committee on Human Resource Development
• Member, Consultative Committee on Rural Development

2014: Re-elected to 16th Lok Sabha (3rd term)

• Member, Standing Committee on External Affairs
• Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs

Personal Pursuits

Rahul Gandhi remains committed to a range of social causes such as primary education, empowerment of the weaker and other oppressed sections of society, preservation of marine environment, etc. His favorite pastime is reading and playing chess. He also likes swimming, cycling, running and aikido.