Banner, Boom and Bhashan: Key Takeaways from Rahul Gandhi's 'Coronation'

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi officially took over as the Congress President at a big ceremony at AICC headquarters on Saturday. That moment when Rahul Gandhi was handed the Certificate of Election it also marked the end of the 19-year record and eventful tenure of his mother Sonia Gandhi as the Congress chief.

The event, branded as Rahul Gandhi’s “coronation”, was not devoid of symbolism, giving a peek into what his tenure as Congress chief holds.

Here’s a look

— The big sign of the generational and leadership shift was the big banner behind the dais kept ready for the ceremony. Earlier, Congress used to have Sonia Gandhi’s photo in the middle, flanked by Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. Today, the banner had Rahul Gandhi in the middle, with Sonia Gandhi’s photo on its right and that of Manmohan Singh to its left.

— The ceremony began with a rendition of Vande Mataram, a political hot potato and a symbol of nationalism the BJP has been trying to appropriate to electoral advantage. Again, the ceremony ended with the national anthem.

— Sonia Gandhi had to halt her first speech as Congress ex-chief for almost two minutes as the boom of firecrackers being burst outside the AICC headquarters drowned out her noise. “I can’t shout now,” Sonia said when the din refused to end. Senior party leader Janardhan Dwivedi had to take the mic and appeal to party workers to halt celebrations for a brief period. His seat at the dais remained vacant for a good part of the ceremony as he had to constantly go outside and request party workers to tone down the celebrations.

— Sonia Gandhi chose to deliver her first speech after relinquishing control of the party in Hindi. She invoked her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi and husband Rajiv Gandhi, referring to their assassinations as well. She said she was earlier reluctant to enter politics or let her children do the same, but decided otherwise keeping in mind the interests of the party and the nation.

— Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, made his first speech as Congress President in English, switching for a brief period to Hindi, and concluding in English. The Congress scion said he was aware that he now walks in the shadow of giants.

— Also present at the function were Rahul Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra. They were seated in the front row with other senior leaders of the party. Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as Congress chief has also set off speculation on Priyanka’s future role. Will she contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli constituency, currently held by mother Sonia Gandhi? Sonia’s statement on Friday that her “job is to retire” had triggered a buzz of the Congress leader quitting electoral politics. The party, however, has rushed to quell the rumours, saying Sonia was talking only about the Congress chief’s post.