With his formal taking over as Congress general secretary, the Rahul Gandhi era has begun, and his influence on decision-making in the Congress is bound to increase. Power players in the Congress have already adapted to the new dynamics. The crowd in Rahul Gandhi’s drawing room comprises several heavyweights.

He has slowly begun to make interventions in policy and organisation. His statement in Uttar Pradesh about the affairs of the Congress is illustrative. At least on one policy issue, his stamp is evident — the tribal rights bill. He has intervened in the matter at least twice. While the bill was in its introduction stage, the junior Gandhi was persuaded by conservationists to veto it. Senior leaders of the party had to explain the implications to him before the bill was passed. Now the implementation of the bill is being delayed at the behest of a group close to Rahul, who are convinced that it will adversely affect wildlife.

Generational shift has cut both ways in the Nehru clan. While it has brought radical ideas and freshness to Congress politics and governance, it has also meant setbacks caused by inexperience and impatience.

Motilal Nehru’s demand in the early days of the national movement was for dominion status, short of complete independence. But under Jawahar’s influence, the moderate Motilal became radical vis-à-vis the British. During Nehru’s tenure as PM, two crucial decisions were said to have been tilted by daughter Indira. In 1957, when the states of the country were reorganised on linguistic lines, Gujarat and Maharashtra remained together as an exception, leading to a lot of resentment in both regions. On May 1, 1960 it was divided into two separate states, a call taken by Indira Gandhi, who was then party president. Secondly, Nehru was not willing to dismiss the elected Communist government in Kerala, led by E.M.S. Namboodiripad in 1959. Indira insisted that it be dismissed, and got her way.

... contd.