The recent news report related to the so called ‘Odarpu Yatra’ being undertaken by Congress MP Y S Jaganmohan to Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh is quite disturbing. Jaganmohan, son of late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had reportedly undertaken his ‘Odarpu Yatra’ to console people who had allegedly committed suicide or died after hearing his father's death in a helicopter crash last year. And despite the party leadership asking him not to do so, the young gentleman went ahead. While no doubt Jaganmohan may have had a personal wish to fulfill, to honour his father, yet it becomes obvious that he also wants to cash in on the political legacy and the popular sentiment that his late father has left behind among the masses. To refresh our minds, following the untimely death of YSR and in the wake of mass outpouring of public emotion, Jaganmohan emerged as the front runner to succeed his father as Chief Minister. However that was not to be because the central Congress leadership did the right thing by giving the mantle of CM to a more senior and experienced politician. In the heat of the moment, the wisdom displayed by the Congress President Sonia Gandhi needed to be appreciated. And this is the point that must be emphasized here. While someone like Jaganmohan may want to become CM, he will have to work hard and earn it. To be the son of YSR does not bestow him the right to the highest office.
One is immediately reminded of the renunciation of the highest office in the land by Congress President Sonia Gandhi. When she first led the Congress to power, it was only natural that she would become Prime Minister. But despite the outpouring of support for her, she refused and instead chose Manmohan Singh. Sonia may have been the wife of Late Rajiv Gandhi or the daughter-in-law of Late Indira Gandhi, but she obviously did not consider it her right to become PM. She must have felt that she did not deserve the highest office of the land. Similarly, one should applaud the example set by the mother son duo of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. As the first term of the UPA government came to a close, many within the party had pitched for Rahul to be the PM candidate. However both mother and son politely refused the offer. Maybe Rahul was not yet capable to lead the country. Instead, Rahul Gandhi immersed himself in party matters and actively campaigned for the party. And when the results came in, the Congress not only returned to power but what had everybody talking was the unexpected yet commendable performance of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, where the party had lost ground over the last few decades. The party’s showing in the largest State of India was largely responsible for the Congress getting the numbers right and comfortably securing a majority. The clamor again began for Rahul to at least take up a Cabinet position. As many will agree, he could have also become the PM after all he was the main campaigner for the Congress notwithstanding the media space occupied by Manmohan Singh. Still mother-son refused any offer of office. Maybe Rahul had still not deserved the reward of becoming PM. And going by the work that he is doing in strengthening the party, Rahul seems to be sending the message to other privileged young leaders. And this is a big lesson for all upcoming leaders including the likes of Jaganmohan and many others. One must earn his/her place under the sun. Hard work and patience will get you there.
