The son rises in India. May the worst bachelor win?

The Congress Party has elevated Rahul Gandhi to the second highest position, right below his Italian-born mother, Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Gandhi’s appointment, which has clearly brought joy to the youth brigade in the party — which represents more than half the delegates at the chintan shivir — will in the days to come trigger two areas of speculation: will he be the party’s prime ministerial candidate for 2014? And what will this elevation mean for Ms. Gandhi’s position? 

If India's politics keep heading in the same direction without any major disruption, then it does seem highly probable that the battle to become the next prime minister will be a reality show involving two bachelor contestants: the Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi versus Rahul Gandhi, whose only claim is that he happened to be born in the highly privileged Nehru-Gandhi family.

A modern day swayamvara, of two bachelors vying for the prized maiden that the office is.  Who will India choose?

At least, with Modi one might have an idea of the economic and social policies he might advocate for.  He has also learnt to at least say the politically correct things about non-Hindus, especially about Muslims.

But, how about the younger bachelor?


"Reluctant Rahul" has often competed against the current prime minister, Manmohan Singh, on who can remain silent the longest!

Even as the country was aghast at the gang rape and the eventual death of a young woman, Rahul--supposedly the champion of, and voice for, the youth--stayed quiet:

Gandhi did not go out and meet with the young anti-rape protesters last month, meeting privately with a small handpicked group instead and later issuing a bland written statement voicing regret at the rape victim’s death. Many protesters held signs saying: “India’s youth is here. Where are you, Rahul Gandhi?”

Rahul Gandhi simply blew it:

Gandhi only needed to emerge from his Delhi cocoon to meet the seething, outraged crowds. To sit with them. To listen to them. It's all they really wanted. They were not naïve enough to expect solutions immediately, and certainly not from him. But they were naïve enough to expect to be heard, especially by this heir to a family legacy that stretches deep into the history of our freedom struggle. They were naïve enough to yearn for the mere symbolism of meeting him.

So, on the right corner stands a middle-aged bachelor with a record that is so despicable that he cannot enter the US.  Across from him is a younger and good looking bachelor who has done nothing but demonstrate that he is incapable of providing leadership in a country of a billion people.

No other choices from the half a billion adults?  Seriously?