Rahul Gandhi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rahul Gandhi
Gandhi in 2024
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 June 2024
Prime Minister	Narendra Modi
Preceded by	Sushma Swaraj (2014)
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Incumbent
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
Party political offices President of the Indian National Congress In office 16 December 2017 – 10 August 2019 Preceded by Sonia Gandhi Succeeded by Sonia Gandhi Vice President of the Indian National Congress In office 19 January 2013 – 16 December 2017 President Sonia Gandhi Preceded by position established Succeeded by position abolished General Secretary of Indian National Congress In office 25 September 2007 – 19 January 2013 President Sonia Gandhi Chairperson of Indian Youth Congress Incumbent Assumed office 25 September 2007 Preceded by position established Chairperson of National Students' Union of India In office 25 September 2007 – 26 October 2022 Preceded by position established Succeeded by Mallikarjun Kharge
Personal details
Born	Rahul Rajiv Gandhi (1970-06-19) 19 June 1970 (age 55) New Delhi, Delhi, India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Parents	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)
Signature

Rahul Rajiv Gandhi (born 19 June 1970) is an important politician in India. He is part of the Indian National Congress (INC) party. Currently, he is the 12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. He is also a member of the Lok Sabha for Rae Bareli, in Uttar Pradesh, since June 2024.

Before this, he represented Wayanad, Kerala, from 2019 to 2024. He also represented Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, from 2004 to 2019. Rahul Gandhi was the party president of the Indian National Congress from December 2017 to July 2019. He also leads the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India. He is a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust. He belongs to the famous Nehru–Gandhi political family.

Rahul Gandhi was born in New Delhi. He spent his younger years in Delhi and Dehradun. He mostly stayed out of public view during his childhood. He went to school in New Delhi and then The Doon School. Later, for safety reasons, he was taught at home. He started college at St. Stephen's College before going to Harvard University. After his father's death, he moved to Rollins College in Florida, finishing his degree in 1994. He then earned a master's degree from Cambridge. After his studies, he worked for a consulting firm in London. He later returned to India and started his own technology company in Mumbai.

Rahul Gandhi led the Congress party in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. In these elections, the party did not win many seats. Before the 2024 Indian general elections, he led two long marches called the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. These efforts helped the INC win more seats (99) and become the Official Opposition again after ten years. In the 2024 elections, he won the Rae Bareli seat. He was then chosen to be the Leader of the Opposition. Since 2004, he has been a member of several important parliamentary committees.

Early Life and Family Background

Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi with President of India Patil and Vice President Ansari at a memorial for his grandmother Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. 2009

Rahul Gandhi was born in Delhi on 19 June 1970. He is the first of two children of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. His father, Rajiv Gandhi, later became the prime minister of India. His mother, Sonia Gandhi, later became the president of the Indian National Congress party.

He is also the grandson of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. His paternal grandfather, Feroze Gandhi, was from Gujarat. He is the great-grandson of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Priyanka Vadra is his younger sister.

Rahul Gandhi first went to St. Columba's School, Delhi. Then, from 1981 to 1983, he attended The Doon School in Dehradun. His father, Rajiv Gandhi, also went to this school. His father became prime minister on 31 October 1984, after Indira Gandhi was killed. Because of safety concerns for Indira Gandhi's family, Rahul and his sister, Priyanka, were taught at home after that.

Rahul Gandhi joined St. Stephen's College, Delhi in 1989 for his college studies. After his first year, he moved to Harvard University. In 1991, his father, Rajiv Gandhi, was killed. Due to safety worries, Rahul moved to Rollins College in Florida, USA. He finished his degree there in 1994. While at Rollins, he used the name Raul Vinci to keep his identity private. Only university staff and security knew his real name. He then earned another degree from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1995.

Before entering politics, Rahul Gandhi worked for three years at a company called Monitor Group in London. In 2002, he came back to India. He started his own technology company, Backops Services Private Ltd, in Mumbai. He was one of the directors of this company. He also opened BackOps UK, which helped get defense contracts for Indian armed forces. Rahul Gandhi strongly believes in using technology to help citizens.

Political Career

Starting in Politics

Gandhi (right) with Hillary Clinton, Sonia Gandhi and Karan Singh in New Delhi, 2009

In March 2004, Rahul Gandhi decided to enter politics. He announced he would run in the general elections from Amethi. This was his father's old voting area in Uttar Pradesh. His mother had held this seat before moving to a nearby area.

His decision surprised many people. They thought his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, might join politics first. People hoped that a young member of the famous political family would bring new energy to the Congress party. In his first interview with foreign media, Rahul Gandhi said he wanted to unite the country. He spoke against "divisive" politics in India. He said he would try to reduce tensions caused by caste and religion.

After eight years out of power, the Congress party won the 2004 elections. They formed a government with other parties. Rahul Gandhi won his Amethi seat by a large number of votes. This kept his family's strong hold in Uttar Pradesh. From 2004 to 2006, he was a member of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs. From 2006 to 2009, he was on the Standing Committee for Human Resource Development.

In 2006, Rahul and Priyanka helped their mother win re-election in Raebareilly. In 2007, he was a key figure in the Congress campaign for the 2007 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. On 24 September 2007, he became the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee. This is the main governing body of the Congress party. He was also put in charge of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India.

Youth Politics

In September 2007, Rahul Gandhi became the general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC). This part of the Congress party represents young people. He also became general secretary of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), which works with students. After he took these roles, both groups grew a lot. Their membership increased from 200,000 to 2.5 million.

The IYC changed to become more democratic and open. In November 2008, Rahul Gandhi held meetings to choose about 40 people for the IYC's thinking group. In 2009, during his visit to West Bengal, the Youth Congress there gained 1 million members. In Uttar Pradesh, the IYC started getting 150 to 200 new members daily in some areas.

As general secretary of the NSUI, Rahul Gandhi worked to make the organization stronger. He also encouraged more students to get involved in politics. Under his leadership, the NSUI started programs to help students. These programs focused on education quality, job chances, and social fairness. He also supported student leaders and wanted students to have a bigger say in decisions.

General Election Campaigns (2009-2024)

For the 2009 Indian general election, Rahul Gandhi traveled across India. He visited 22 states and 107 voting areas. He gave speeches, met with voters, and talked about his party's plans. He focused on topics like rural development, education, jobs, and helping women. He also stressed that young people should join politics.

The election results surprised many. The Congress-led government, called the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), won again. The INC won 206 seats, becoming the largest party. They formed a government with other parties. Rahul Gandhi won his Amethi seat again by a very large number of votes. He was given credit for helping the Congress party do well in Uttar Pradesh, where they won 21 out of 80 seats.

Before the 2014 Indian general election, Rahul Gandhi became the vice president of the Indian National Congress. This made him the second-in-command of the party. He led the Congress party's campaign for the 2014 elections. He won his Amethi seat again, beating Smriti Irani of the BJP. However, the Congress party lost badly, winning only 44 seats. This was their worst performance ever in the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul Gandhi offered to resign, but the party leaders said no.

Rahul Gandhi led the 2019 election campaign for the Congress party. During his campaign, he talked about the "Nyay" (Minimum Income Guarantee) Scheme. This plan promised money to the poorest families. He also promised to create many government jobs. Rahul Gandhi used the slogan "Chowkidar Chor Hai" (The Watchman is a Thief) against Narendra Modi. This slogan was about claims of unfairness in a jet deal. After the elections, the INC won 52 seats, a small increase. Rahul Gandhi won the Wayanad seat by a large margin. But he lost his Amethi seat to Smriti Irani.

Before the 2024 Indian general elections, Rahul Gandhi led two big political marches. These were the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. These marches aimed to bring people together and address important issues. They also helped the Congress party become more visible. The INC won 99 seats in the 2024 elections. This was an improvement, and the party became the Official Opposition again. Rahul Gandhi won the Rae Bareli seat, taking over from his mother, Sonia Gandhi. After this win, he was chosen as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

Bharat Jodo Yatra (2022–2023)

The Bharat Jodo Yatra means "Unite India March." This was a campaign by the Congress party from 2022 to 2023. Its main goal was to promote national unity across India. It aimed to gather support for the INC and its ideas. The march focused on themes like patriotism and development. Rahul Gandhi started the march on 7 September 2022 in Kanyakumari. He paid respects to his father, Rajiv Gandhi, and other important figures.

During the yatra, Rahul Gandhi and other INC leaders traveled across the country. They held rallies, public meetings, and talked with people. Rahul Gandhi focused on topics like economic development, social justice, and fair governance. He wanted to make the party stronger at the local level.

The march ended on 29 January 2023, in Srinagar. It lasted 137 days and covered 4,080 kilometers (2,540 miles). It went through 12 states and two union territories. During the yatra, the INC chose a new party president. The party also won a majority in the 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. In 2023, the Congress party won big victories in Karnataka and Telangana. They gained more votes and seats in areas where the march had passed.

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (2024)

Attendees displaying banners at the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra gathering

From 14 January to 20 March 2024, Rahul Gandhi led a second march across India. This was the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Unlike the first one, this march used a mix of walking and vehicles.

Electoral Performance

Rahul Gandhi has run in several general elections. Here's how he has performed:

• In the 2004 general election, he won from Amethi. He received 390,179 votes (66.18%).
• In the 2009 general election, he won from Amethi again. He got 464,195 votes (71.78%).
• In the 2014 general election, he kept his seat in Amethi. He won with 408,651 votes (46.71%).
• In the 2019 Indian general election, he lost in Amethi. He received 413,394 votes (43.86%). However, he won from Wayanad in the same election. He got 706,367 votes (64.67%).
• In the 2024 general election, Rahul Gandhi ran from both Wayanad and Rae Bareli. He won both seats. He got 364,422 votes (59.69%) in Wayanad and 687,649 votes (66.17%) in Rae Bareli. The leaders of the Congress decided he would keep the Rae Bareli seat. His sister, Priyanka Gandhi, was announced as the candidate for the Wayanad by-election.

Positions Held

Public Offices

In 2004, Rahul Gandhi was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs from 2004 to 2006. He also served on the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development from 2006 to 2009.

In 2009, he was re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha for his second term. He continued to be a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development. He also joined the Consultative Committee on Rural Development.

In 2014, Gandhi was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha for his third term. He served as a member of the Standing Committee on External Affairs. He was also on the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs.

In 2019, he was elected to the 17th Lok Sabha for his fourth term. He became a member of the Standing Committee on Defence. He also served on the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs.

In 2024, Gandhi was elected to the 18th Lok Sabha for his fifth term. He became the 12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. He also serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Defence.

Within the Party

From 2008 to 2013, Rahul Gandhi was the general secretary of the Indian National Congress (INC). Since 2007, he has been the chairperson of both the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI). He helped create these positions and still holds them.

He was the vice-president of the INC from 2013 to 2016. After that, the position was removed. Then, from 2017 to 2019, Rahul Gandhi served as the president of the INC. He took over from Sonia Gandhi.

Political and Social Views

National Security

68th United States Secretary of State John Kerry with Gandhi at the Roosevelt House in New Delhi.

In 2010, some secret documents were leaked by WikiLeaks. One document from 2009 mentioned a conversation Rahul Gandhi had with the US ambassador. He said he believed that some extreme groups in India were a bigger threat than certain militant groups. He specifically mentioned some figures in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He also said there was some support for a militant group among certain Indian Muslim groups. The BJP strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi for these statements. They said his words could divide people and hurt India's fight against terror. Rahul Gandhi has also criticized groups like the RSS. He has compared them to certain terrorist organizations.

Gandhi with Greek prime minister George Papandreou in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

Farmers and Land Issues

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sits next to Gandhi who leads a delegation of leaders from Bundelkhand region in New Delhi. 2009

On 19 April 2015, Rahul Gandhi spoke at a rally for farmers and workers. He talked about his past protests in Niyamgiri and Bhatta-Parsaul. About 100,000 people attended the rally. In his speech, he criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi had said he was "cleaning the mess created by previous governments."

Rahul Gandhi said, "Do you know how Modi won the election? He borrowed thousands of crores from rich business people for his campaigns. How will he pay them back? He will pay them back with your land. He will give your land to his business friends."

He called the government a "suit-boot government." This was a reference to a special suit Modi wore. He also used the phrase "acche din government" (good days government), which was Modi's election slogan. Rahul Gandhi said this government had "failed the country."

A new land bill was introduced by the BJP government in May. Opposition parties criticized it. Rahul Gandhi accused the government of "murdering" the previous government's land bill. He promised to stop the bill from passing. He called the bill "anti-farmer" and compared it to "daylight robbery." On 26 May, the Modi government's first anniversary, Rahul Gandhi said that celebrations were only for a few powerful friends. He stated that farmers and workers had nothing to celebrate.

Women's Empowerment and LGBTQ Rights

Rahul Gandhi has often spoken about the importance of women's empowerment and gender equality in India. He said the Congress party would actively promote women in its structure. He set a goal for 50% of chief ministers to be women within 10 years. Rahul Gandhi started Self-Help Groups for women in villages in Amethi. These groups aimed to bring women together and give them more information and power to make decisions.

He has asked for more women in politics and an end to violence against women. A bill was introduced to reserve one-third of seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women. Rahul Gandhi supported this bill. He said, "Women do not need any protection. If you give them their rights, they can protect themselves." This bill passed in one house of Parliament but not the other. In 2019, he again called for 33% reservation for women in all parliamentary seats and government jobs.

Rahul Gandhi has also supported rights for LGBTQ individuals. He believes that personal freedom issues should be decided by the individual. He thinks it is important to protect the rights of all citizens in India.

Climate and Energy

Rahul Gandhi supports moving to renewable energy sources. He has called for more investment in solar, wind, and other clean energy technologies. He is very worried about environmental degradation in the world. He believes that environmental problems must become a political issue to get enough attention.

Rahul Gandhi criticized a draft environmental plan from 2020. He called it "dangerous" and said it would harm the environment in the long run. He said it would silence communities directly affected by environmental damage.

Economic Issues

Gandhi at Stanford University in May 2023, delivers address on India’s democracy, United States relationship

Rahul Gandhi believes that the economic policies of the Modi Government mostly help a few very rich business people. He calls these people "crony capitalists" and says they are Modi's "best friends." He has criticized the government for selling off government-owned companies. He believes that some powerful groups and rich business people are working together to control India.

He has been especially critical of a rich Indian businessman, Gautam Adani. Rahul Gandhi says the Modi Government has been very favorable to him. He sees Adani's rise as a result of unfair business practices. He says he is not against business but supports fairness. He disagrees with selling off government companies. He says the Congress party will not allow it if they come to power. Citing a report on inequality, he says that the Modi Government's policies are causing more economic inequality.

Demonetization

Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized the Modi government's decision in 2016 to remove ₹500 and ₹1,000 banknotes from use. He called it a "tragedy" and a "disaster." He says it has hurt the Indian economy and the lives of ordinary people. Rahul Gandhi has also accused the government of making this decision without proper planning. He says it caused great hardship for the poor and vulnerable. He believes that demonetization was a major policy failure. He has suggested it was a deliberate move to help a few rich business people control the economy. He called demonetization the country's "biggest scam."

In his speeches, Rahul Gandhi has consistently argued that demonetization did not achieve its goals. He says it failed to fight black money or stop corruption. He also claims the policy was put in place without talking to experts or opposition parties. Rahul Gandhi has also stated that demonetization greatly affected farmers. He says it caused millions of people in small businesses and informal jobs to lose work.

See also

In Spanish: Rahul Gandhi para niños

• Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance
• National Students' Union of India
• Indian Youth Congress
• List of presidents of the Indian National Congress

Images for kids

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  Rahul Gandhi's signature