New Delhi, December 4 (IANS): In a generational shift at the top in the Congress, Rahul Gandhi is all set to take over as party President next week after he filed his nomination papers on Monday for the post amid opposition jibes over dynasty politics in a contest with no one else in the fray. The 47-year-old Gandhi, who will be the sixth Nehru-Gandhi scion to helm the party, filed papers at the Congress headquarters here amid cheers and celebrations by party leaders and workers. His mother and incumbent party President Sonia Gandhi signed the first nomination paper for election of her son. Among the proposers was former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who called Rahul Gandhi the “darling” of the party. Manmohan Singh accompanied Gandhi when he filed the nomination paper. In all over 90 sets of nominations were said to have been filed supporting Gandhi before the deadline expired at 3 p.m. on Monday. The last date for withdrawal is December 11 when he may be declared elected since there is no contest. However, the filing of nomination was not without controversy stoked by remarks of senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar who invoked the Mughal dynasty in the Congress Presidential election that Prime Minister Narendra Modi latched on to quickly to call it “Aurangzeb Raj”. “When Shah Jahan came in the place of Jahangir did any election happen? And when Aurangzeb came in place of Shah Jahan did any election happen? It was known to everyone that the throne of the king will automatically go to the heir,” Aiyar said, retorting to the “dynasty” jibes of the BJP on Rahul Gandhi’s election. Aurangzeb Raj, says Modi Modi was quick to pounce on Aiyar’s remarks. Addressing an election rally in Gujarat, Modi said: “It was known to everyone that the throne of the king will automatically go the son. I congratulate the Congress on their ‘Aurangzeb Raj.’ For us, the wellbeing of the people matters and 125 crore Indians are our high command,” he said. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said Modi was “suffering from Rahul Gandhi phobia”. Gandhi, who became the Congress Vice President in January 2013, will succeed his mother Sonia, the longest serving Congress chief who has helmed the party since 1998. He is the sixth in the Gandhi-Nehru family to head the party after his great great grandfather Motilal Nehru, great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru, Grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi.
