The oblique references by the party’s newly-appointed media committee chairman Veerappa Moily in his first formal interaction with the press assumes significance because of the uncertain political climate arising out of the Left’s opposition to the 123 Agreement.

“He is the hope of today and   tomorrow, and he will respond to that kind of leadership role which will derive demographic dividend,” Moily said.

He observed that the new youth-focus of the Congress was important in the context that 75 per cent of India’s population in the next 10-15 years will be youth.

Youth to revamp party
“Youth have a very important role to play, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s decision to revamp the party shows a functional approach to face challenges,” he said.

Asked if the new team of the All India Congress Committee (AICC)  had been formed keeping the possibility of early General elections in mind, Moily said, “We prepared whether there are elections today or tomorrow.”
Rahul Gandhi’s appointment as a general secretary in charge of the youth Congress and the National Student Union of India (NSUI) would provide  “new energy” to the party, he said.

Party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan also stressed on the youth focus of the party, saying that the party organisational reshuffle had resulted in a harmonious blend of youth and experience.

While she refused to reply directly to a question on whether Rahul would be the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate in the next elections, she said, “I am asserting that Rahul Gandhi will be at the forefront of galvanising the youth of the country.”

Rahul a catalyst
Rahul has been inducted in the party organisation to serve as a catalyst in transforming the aspirations of the youth, just as his father had done in the 1980s, Natarajan observed.

Natarajan said that it would be incorrect to limit Rahul’s leadership potential to the campaign for the Uttar Pradesh elections, where despite his active road shows Congress came up with a very poor show.
“That would be a very limited point of view to take, as elections are always a combined effort and the results depend on a range of factors. Rahul Gandhi as the general secretary has a pan-Indian dimension,” Natarajan noted.

She said Rahul Gandhi would play a role in the Gujarat election campaign too, though the strategy for that had not been finalised yet.