Rahul Gandhi was today officially elected as the party president, becoming the fourth generation leader of his family to hold the post.
Bringing a generational shift in the Congress, Rahul Gandhi was on Monday elected as the party president. It wasn't much of a fight for him as the 47-year-old scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family was the lone candidate in the fray.
Rahul Gandhi will collect the certificate formally declaring his ascension to the post on December 16, party's central election authority head Mullappally Ramachandran said today.
The son of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi, Rahul will succeed his mother, who remained in the post for 19 years.
The political journey of Rahul Gandhi began in 2004 when he first contested Lok Sabha election from Amethi, a family bastion in Uttar Pradesh.
Here is a timeline of Rahul Gandhi’s 13-year-long political journey:
2004: After much convincing from mother Sonia Gandhi, Rahul contests the Lok Sabha election from Amethi.
2006: Sonia Gandhi wins Raebareli by-election with a record margin of 4.17 lakh votes as Rahul leads her campaign. Mother indicates that Rahul "may" be given organisational responsibility soon.
2007: Rahul Gandhi appointed Congress general secretary, takes charge of youth and student wings of the party. Promises to induct new leaders from non-political families.
2007: His 'star campaigner' appeal fails to secure win for the Congress in UP Assembly polls as party wins only 22 out of 403 seats.
2008: Rahul Gandhi defends UPA's Indo-US nuclear deal in a landmark speech. He shares his experience of his visit to the house of 'Kalawati', a poor Dalit woman in Vidarbha, and makes the case how nuclear energy is crucial for eliminating poverty.
2009: Rahul takes charge of Congress campaign during the Lok Sabha elections and addresses 125 rallies. Congress wins 206 seats in the Parliament. In Uttar Pradesh, the part wins 21 of 80 seats, with ally RLD winning 5.
Watch: Celebration outside Congress headquarters after Rahul Gandhi elected Congress president
2010: Bihar Assembly elections give a major jolt to the Congress party as it wins only 4 out of 243 assembly seats.
2011: Rahul Gandhi joins farmers' agitation against land acquisition in Bhatta Parsaul, Greater Noida. He rides pillion on motorcycle in the dark to visit villages in the area.
2012: Rahul addresses nearly 200 rallies during 2012 UP Assembly polls but Congress again fails to make inroads and wins only 28 seats.
2012: Clamour in the Congress rises over demands that Rahul Gandhi should join the UPA govt after Pranab Mukherjee resigned to contest the Presidential poll. Many party leaders, senior ministers and even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged him to take a role in the Cabinet.
2013: Congress president Sonia Gandhi appoints Rahul vice-president of the party.
2013: After taking over as the vice-president of the party, Rahul Gandhi makes his "power is poison" speech. “My mother came to my room and cried... because she understands that power is poison.”
2013: He hits out at own government at the Centre and tears up a draft ordinance that would have reversed a Supreme Court order barring convicted politicians from contesting elections.
Watch: Rahul Gandhi's 13-year political journey so far
2014: Congress contests 2014 General elections with Rahul as unofficial PM candidate. The party records its lowest-ever Lok Sabha tally with 44 seats. The party also loses several state Assembly elections.
2015: Rahul Gandhi goes on a 57-day sabbatical in a politically-charged season. This gives rise to allegations of him being a "reluctant politician."
2015: He scores a major win after the Narendra Modi government drops its land acquisition ordinance. He tries to shed his "reluctant politician" image with back to back speeches, taking a jibe at the government and terming it a "suit-boot ki sarkar."
2015: Congress faces a string of defeats in state Assembly polls across the country barring Bihar where a "grand alliance" of Congress-RJD-JDU secures comfortable majority.
2015-16: Rahul Gandhi extends support to student protest across the country, including in FTII, Hyderabad University (After Rohith Vemula suicide) and JNU.
2016: With Sonia Gandhi in background, Rahul Gandhi takes charge of day-to-day affairs of the party. Speculations over his elevation gain traction.
2017: Congress contests UP Assembly elections under his leadership, forms alliance with the Samajwadi Party but wins only seven seats.
2017: Rahul Gandhi mounts an intense campaign in Gujarat against the ruling BJP, appointed Congress President just before the conclusion of the polls.
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