Rahul Rajiv Gandhi (born 19 June 1970) is an Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress (INC). He is currently the 12th Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and has represented Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, since June 2024. Previously, he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wayanad, Kerala, from 2019 to 2024, and for Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, from 2004 to 2019. Gandhi also served as the president of the Indian National Congress from December 2017 to July 2019. He is the chairperson of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India, and a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust. He belongs to the prominent Nehru-Gandhi political family.
 | |
| 12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 9 June 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Sushma Swaraj (2014) |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 4 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Sonia Gandhi |
| Constituency | Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh |
| In office 7 August 2023 – 17 June 2024 23 May 2019 – 23 March 2023 | |
| Preceded by | M. I. Shanavas |
| Succeeded by | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra |
| Constituency | Wayanad, Kerala |
| In office 17 May 2004 – 23 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Sonia Gandhi |
| Succeeded by | Smriti Irani |
| Constituency | Amethi, Uttar Pradesh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rahul Rajiv Gandhi
|
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Parent(s) | Rajiv Gandhi (father) Sonia Gandhi (mother) |
| Relatives | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (sister) Nehru–Gandhi family |
| Residence | 10, Janpath, New Delhi |
| Alma mater | Rollins College (B.A.) Trinity College, Cambridge (M. Phil. Development Studies) |
Gandhi was born in New Delhi and spent his early years between Delhi and Dehradun, staying out of the public eye during his childhood and early youth. He attended primary school in New Delhi and later went to The Doon School. Due to security concerns, he was later home-schooled. Gandhi started his undergraduate studies at St. Stephen's College before transferring to Harvard University. After his father's assassination and further security risks, he moved to Rollins College in Florida, where he completed his degree in 1994. Gandhi then earned an M.Phil. from Cambridge before beginning his career with the Monitor Group, a management consulting firm in London. He later returned to India and founded Backops Services, a technology outsourcing firm based in Mumbai.
As the leader of the Congress party, Gandhi led the INC in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, both of which resulted in significant defeats, with the party securing only 44 and 52 seats, respectively. Ahead of the 2024 elections, Gandhi spearheaded the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which helped the INC win 99 seats and regain its status as the Official Opposition for the first time in a decade. Gandhi was elected from Rae Bareli in the 2024 elections and was appointed as Leader of the Opposition. He has been a member of several parliamentary committees, including those on Home Affairs, Human Resource Development, External Affairs, Finance and Corporate Affairs, and Defence.
Early Life and Background
Rahul Gandhi was born on 19 June 1970 at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi, India. He is the first of two children of Rajiv Gandhi, the sixth Prime Minister of India, and Sonia Gandhi, who later became the president of the Indian National Congress. His maternal grandmother was Indira Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India, and his paternal grandfather, Feroze Gandhi, was of Parsi descent and from Gujarat. He is also the great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister.
Gandhi completed his early education at St. Columba's School in New Delhi before moving to The Doon School in Dehradun, an elite all-boys' boarding school, from 1981 to 1983. At Doon, he was classmates with prominent political figures such as Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada. After the assassination of his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, in 1984, his father, Rajiv Gandhi, became the Prime Minister of India. Due to security threats from Sikh extremists, Gandhi and his sister Priyanka were home-schooled, with exams supervised by teachers. The siblings led a relatively private childhood, making only a few public appearances with their parents.
In 1989, Gandhi joined St. Stephen's College, Delhi, an affiliated college of the University of Delhi, for his undergraduate studies in History (BA Honours). Despite his modest performance in Class XII, scoring 61 percent in the CBSE school certificate, he was admitted to St. Stephen’s College through the sports quota, benefiting from a 10 percent advantage in exam scores for athletes. Gandhi was an accomplished shooter, having placed fourth in the 32nd National Shooting Competition in New Delhi in 1988. He won several national awards in the sport.
After the assassination of his father, Rajiv Gandhi, in 1991, Gandhi moved to Harvard University for further studies. He later transferred to Rollins College in Florida due to security concerns. He completed his undergraduate degree before pursuing a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Development Studies at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1995. In response to heightened security threats after his father's assassination, Gandhi occasionally used the alias "Vinci" for protection.
Following his education, Gandhi worked at the Monitor Group, a management consulting firm in London, for three years. In 2002, he returned to India and co-founded Backops Services Private Ltd in Mumbai, a technology consultancy. He later established BackOps UK, which secured defence contracts from foreign suppliers.
Political Career
Formative Years
Rahul Gandhi announced his entry into politics in March 2004, declaring his intention to contest the 14th general elections from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, the constituency once represented by his father, Rajiv Gandhi. His mother, Sonia Gandhi, had previously held the seat before transferring to the neighboring constituency of Rae Bareli. Gandhi’s decision was surprising to many, as his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, was perceived by some as the more charismatic and likely successor. His entry into politics was seen as an effort to rejuvenate the Congress party, especially among India’s youth. In his first foreign media interview, he presented himself as a unifier, emphasizing the need to reduce caste and religious tensions in the country and condemning divisive politics.
In the 2004 Indian general election, the Congress party made a significant comeback, securing 145 seats after eight years in opposition. A coalition government was formed with support from regional parties. Gandhi won his seat by a margin of over 100,000 votes, consolidating his family's stronghold in Uttar Pradesh. However, the Congress party's performance in the state was less than impressive, with only 10 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats and a 12.53% vote share. Gandhi did not hold an official role in the government at the time. From 2004 to 2006, he served on the Standing Committee on Home Affairs, and from 2006 to 2009, he served on the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development.
During this period, Gandhi also managed his mother’s re-election campaign for Rae Bareli in 2006, where she won by a margin of over 400,000 votes. He played a prominent role in the Congress party’s campaign for the 2007 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, though the party did not perform well, securing only 22 out of 403 seats with a vote share of 8.53%. On 24 September 2007, he was appointed general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the party's governing body, and given responsibility for the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI) as part of a party reshuffle.
Youth Politics
In September 2007, Gandhi was appointed general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), which represent the youth and student demographics, respectively. His leadership brought significant changes to both organizations. Membership in the IYC grew substantially, increasing from 200,000 to 2.5 million. He initiated a restructuring process within the IYC to make it more democratic and inclusive. Gandhi’s efforts in revitalizing the IYC included handpicking members for its think tank and organizing targeted recruitment drives across India. For example, during his visit to West Bengal in 2009, the Youth Congress saw an enrollment surge, registering 1 million new members.
As the general secretary of the NSUI, Gandhi focused on strengthening the organization and boosting student participation in politics. Under his leadership, the NSUI launched programs addressing key student issues, such as quality education, employment, and social justice. He advocated for increased student representation in decision-making bodies and supported student leaders in their efforts. His work in youth politics played a crucial role in reshaping the Congress party’s engagement with young Indians.
Bharat Jodo Yatra (2022–2023)
The Bharat Jodo Yatra, meaning "Unify India March," was a significant political campaign organized by the Indian National Congress (INC) from September 2022 to January 2023. The yatra aimed to promote national unity and solidarity across India, emphasizing themes of patriotism, cultural heritage, and inclusive development. Gandhi initiated the march on 7 September 2022 in Kanyakumari, after paying tributes to his father Rajiv Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, and the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar.
The yatra covered 4,080 kilometers (2,540 miles) over 137 days, passing through 12 states and two union territories, and concluded in Srinagar on 29 January 2023 with the unfurling of the Indian flag at Lal Chowk. The march saw Gandhi and INC leaders, along with members of Parliament and notable personalities, traveling across India, addressing rallies, holding public meetings, and engaging with citizens. The focus of the campaign was on issues such as economic development, social justice, and inclusive governance, with the goal of revitalizing Congress’s grassroots presence and political relevance.
The yatra’s impact was seen in the 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, where Congress secured its first majority since 2018. In the subsequent 2023 elections in Karnataka and Telangana, the Congress party achieved resounding victories, increasing both its vote share and number of seats in constituencies through which the march had passed.
Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (2024)
Following the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi led a second yatra, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, from 14 January to 20 March 2024. Unlike the previous yatra, this one was conducted in a hybrid format, focusing on issues related to justice, equality, and socio-economic rights.
2023 Conviction and Stay
In 2019, Gandhi made a remark during a rally in Kolar, Karnataka, which led to a defamation lawsuit filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi. Gandhi had compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fugitives Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, stating, "Why is it that all thieves, whether it be Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names?" The case culminated in Gandhi’s conviction on 23 March 2023, when a Surat court sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment for defamation. The following day, Gandhi was disqualified as a Member of Parliament from the Wayanad constituency under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, due to the conviction.
Gandhi's legal team appealed the sentence, securing a one-month stay. Later, on 5 August 2023, the Supreme Court of India issued a stay on his conviction, allowing him to retain his seat in Parliament. The disqualification of Gandhi provoked strong reactions both domestically and internationally. Leaders across various political parties criticized the disqualification, while foreign lawmakers, including U.S. Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Chris Van Hollen, expressed concern about the development.
Electoral Performance
Gandhi has contested multiple general elections since 2004:
- 2004: Gandhi contested from Amethi and won with 390,179 votes (66.18% vote share).
- 2009: He contested from Amethi again, securing 464,195 votes (71.78% vote share).
- 2014: He retained his seat in Amethi, winning 408,651 votes (46.71% vote share).
- 2019: Gandhi lost from Amethi, securing 413,394 votes (43.86% vote share), but won from Wayanad with 706,367 votes (64.67% vote share).
- 2024: Gandhi contested from both Wayanad and Rae Bareli, winning both seats with 364,422 votes (59.69% vote share) in Wayanad and 390,030 votes (66.17% vote share) in Rae Bareli. He was expected to retain Rae Bareli in the 18th Lok Sabha, while Priyanka Gandhi was announced as the Congress candidate for the Wayanad bypoll.
Positions Held
Public Offices
- 2004: Elected to the 14th Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament (MP). Served as:
- Member of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs (2004–2006).
- Member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development (2006–2009).
- 2009: Re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha for a second term. Served as:
- Member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development.
- Member of the Consultative Committee on Rural Development.
- 2014: Elected to the 16th Lok Sabha for a third term. Served as:
- Member of the Standing Committee on External Affairs.
- Member of the Consultative Committee on Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
- 2019: Elected to the 17th Lok Sabha for a fourth term. Served as:
- Member of the Standing Committee on Defence.
- Member of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs.
- 2024: Elected to the 18th Lok Sabha for a fifth term. Served as:
- 12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
- Member of the Standing Committee on Defence.
Within Party
- 2008–2013: General Secretary of the Indian National Congress (INC).
- 2007–2020: Chairperson of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC).
- 2007–2020: Chairperson of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI).
- 2013–2016: Vice President of the Indian National Congress.
- 2017–2019: President of the Indian National Congress, succeeding Sonia Gandhi and later succeeded by Sonia Gandhi (interim).
Political and Social Views
National Security
Gandhi has expressed several views on national security that have drawn attention and criticism, particularly regarding the threat of extremism and terrorism in India.
2010 WikiLeaks Incident: A leaked cable from the United States diplomatic cables leak in 2010 revealed a conversation between Gandhi and U.S. Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer. Gandhi reportedly stated that he believed Hindu extremists posed a greater threat to India than Muslim militants. He also discussed the support of some elements of India's Muslim population for the extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). This remark led to sharp criticism from the BJP, with spokespeople accusing him of being divisive and compromising India's fight against terrorism.
Criticism of RSS: Gandhi has been critical of right-wing Hindu groups such as the RSS, which he has compared to militant organizations like SIMI. This comparison drew further ire from BJP leaders.
2013 Muzaffarnagar Riots: During a campaign rally in Indore after the Muzaffarnagar riots, Gandhi stated that a police officer had informed him that Pakistan's ISI was attempting to recruit riot-affected youth. This claim was denied by local authorities, including the Uttar Pradesh government and intelligence agencies. Gandhi's statement was widely criticized by political opponents, and Congress member Jairam Ramesh suggested that Gandhi should apologize to the Muslim community for making such a remark. Gandhi clarified that he was referring to divisive politics, not exploiting communal sentiments.
Farmers and Land Agitation
- On 19 April 2015, Gandhi addressed the Kisan Khet Mazdoor Rally at Ramlila Maidan, where he criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comment in Toronto, claiming that Modi was "cleaning the mess created by previous governments." Gandhi accused Modi of borrowing large sums from industrialists to fund his campaigns and advertisements, and warned that the repayment would be made with the land of farmers. He called the government a "suit-boot government" and criticized its failure to deliver on promises like "acche din" (good days).
- Gandhi was vocal against the BJP government’s land bill, which he described as "anti-farmer" and accused the government of "murdering" the UPA's land bill. He promised to prevent the bill from being passed, including taking action on the streets if necessary. During Modi's government's first anniversary on 26 May 2015, Gandhi pointed out that only the powerful elite had something to celebrate, while farmers and workers were left behind.
Women's Empowerment and LGBTQ Rights
- Gandhi has repeatedly emphasized the importance of women's empowerment and gender equality. He has committed to promoting women within the Indian National Congress (INC) and set a goal of having 50% women as chief ministers within the next decade. He also initiated Self-Help Groups to empower women in villages like Amethi.
- Gandhi has advocated for increased representation of women in politics and strongly supported the Women's Reservation Bill, which aimed to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. The bill passed the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but lapsed in the Lok Sabha due to the lack of a vote.
- In 2019, Gandhi once again called for 33% reservation for women in parliamentary and state assembly seats, as well as government jobs.
- LGBTQ rights: Gandhi supported the Supreme Court’s decision to revoke Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code in 2018, which had criminalized homosexual relations. He expressed the belief that such matters should be left to individuals and affirmed the importance of upholding citizens’ constitutional rights to life and liberty.
Climate and Energy
- Gandhi advocates for the transition to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. He stresses the importance of addressing environmental degradation and has called for environmental issues to be made a political priority.
- He has been highly critical of the 2020 draft of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), calling it "dangerous" and stating that it would silence the communities most affected by environmental destruction.
Economic Issues
- Gandhi has been critical of Modi's economic policies, which he believes primarily benefit a few billionaires, accusing them of being "crony capitalists". He specifically criticized Gautam Adani, accusing Modi's government of favouring Adani’s rise as part of the crony capitalist agenda.
- Gandhi has expressed opposition to the privatization of public sector undertakings (PSUs), pledging that Congress would halt privatization if it came to power.
- He has also highlighted rising economic inequality, using reports like Oxfam's inequality report to argue that the Modi government's policies have exacerbated the wealth gap.
Demonetization
- Gandhi has been a strong critic of demonetization introduced by the Modi government in 2016, calling it a "tragedy" and a "disaster." He argued that the policy, aimed at curbing black money and corruption, was poorly planned and caused immense hardship, particularly to the poor and vulnerable populations. He referred to demonetization as a failure of policy design and accused Modi of using it to benefit 2-3 billionaires, causing significant disruption to farmers, small businesses, and the informal sector.
References
- Centre, N.I. (no date) Leader of Opposition, Digital Sansad. Available at: https://sansad.in/ls/about/leader-of-opposition (Accessed: 14 January 2025).
- Karindalam, A. (2024) Will Rahul Gandhi become PM? here’s what the stars have in store for the Congress leader, The Week. Available at: https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2024/06/27/will-rahul-gandhi-become-pm-what-the-stars-have-in-store-for-the-congress-leader.html (Accessed: 14 January 2025).
- Rahul Gandhi (2025) Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rahul-Gandhi (Accessed: 14 January 2025).
- Rahul Gandhi Biography: Early life, age, family, education, Political Journey & More (2022) Jagranjosh.com. Available at: https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/rahul-gandhi-biography-1558444174-1 (Accessed: 14 January 2025).
