(Image source from: Will Rahul Gandhi prove critics wrong?})

As Rahul Gandhi celebrated his 44th birthday, social media was abuzz with jokes on the Congress leader. Incidentally, the Congress party has the same number of MPs in Lok Sabha as the number of birthdays Rahul celebrated so far. But the Gandhi scion has to ignore the jokes and focus on the job at hand. And the task is tougher this time than when he joined politics ten years ago.

Back in 2004, Congress workers displayed the same zeal and enthusiasm that BJP workers expressed when Narendra Modi was declared the party’s prime ministerial candidate in September 2013. Congress party workers celebrated Rahul's entry into politics from Delhi to Amethi. That was the year when Rahul Gandhi's name was announced as the Congress candidate from Amethi.

Jubilations in the Congress camp could not be affected by the fact that the ruling NDA looked confident of returning to power. The fact that a next generation Gandhi was getting into politics was in itself a motivation for the chief opposition party, especially among the youth members.

But the expectation of the party soon turned into frustration, and resulted in the worst ever performance of the Congress in a general election. Everyone knew that the Gandhi scion did not want to replace Manmohan Singh when the UPA got the second tenure from 2009-2014. Probably Rahul didn’t realise that he needed to show his presence in the Congress-led UPA government and its policies.

Rahul has to start recouping the Congress workers and the first task before him would be to boost the morale of party members. But till now he has not displayed any signs of trying to uplift the mood of party leaders and its supporters.

It's a well known fact that in politics you don’t get a second chance. Indira Gandhi was an exception and she took it with both hands, says Radhakrishnan, veteran journalist of Frontline. Rahul is lucky to get another chance and should use the opportunity to start afresh.

However, most most people are are doubtful that Rahul is willing to take up the challenge. Though he has asserted time and again that the decision to enter politics was his own. But his actions deny his claim, and most political pundits think it was not his personal decision.

Rahul can start afresh. Maharashtra and Assam needs "immediate" attention as the issue of leadership has to be settled here. He has to act quickly and convey his decision to party leaders in the state legislators. Maharashtra will go into polls this september and if the party wants to retain power then Rahul has to think and act quickly. Similarly, leadership issue in Assam has to be settled at the earliest. Leaders like Himanta Biswa Sarma has to be reached out to keep the party together. Party leaders in Haryana have to be kept united if the Congress wishesh to retain power. Polling is to be held in September in Haryana.

In Delhi, the Congress workers need clear direction as to which leader should head which task. There is also the question of projecting a leader. Things look upbeat for the Congress as the party seems to have revived itself by leading protests over inadequate supply of water and power.

Another challenge for Rahul is to take up 'Mission South', which can be a long term agenda. Congress has been decimated in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. If "tainted" Lalu Yadav could be embraced for for better electoral prospects, Rahul should apply the same logic to YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Without ignoring the old guard, Rahul has to bring the younger crop of leaders into the organisation. In Karnataka and Kerala, Rahul needs to identify and promote younger leaders. This is the best opportunity for the Congress to revive and remove the deadwoods in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Rahul needs to promote Congress leaders between 40-50 years, who have been waiting to take up more meaningful responsibilities.

Rahul needs to take the bull by its horns and lead his party. He has to put to rest all speculations about being the reluctant politician. Rahul Gandhi boost the low confidence level of Congress leaders and supports, if he wants to keep his party relevant in Indian politics.

(Picture Source: prsindia.org)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)