Describing Rahul's speech as "mature and thoughtful", Chidambaram said, "If you closed your eyes and heard his speech, you would have thought it was Rajiv Gandhi speaking 25 years ago." He said Rahul also reflected his father's views about disconnect between the people and the government, which needs to be changed.
In their speeches at the Congress plenary in New Delhi, young leaders like Union Ministers Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia, as also party member of Parliament Deependra Singh Hooda, expressed their desire to work under Rahul's "leadership".
"The youth of the country are ready to work under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi," said Pilot, son of late Rajesh Pilot, who worked with Rajiv Gandhi.
Scindia, in his speech, said, "We are ready to work under Rahulji's leadership" in the struggle for economic emancipation of the people. To a question on whether Rahul should join government in a key position, Singh said, "This is for him to decide. We always consider him competent."
Earlier, 40-year old Rahul was seen coming down the dais and talking to Scindia and Pilot who were seated in the front rows.
Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, who on Sunday said that Rahul should put in place his own team, said, "In our society, when one becomes 60, he feels himself to be an old man. Now, the time has come when young leaders needed to be made Pradesh Congress Committee presidents and they, in turn, build their own teams in the states."
The speeches, the appeals and the suggestions by the leaders have given weight to speculation about changes being in the offing in the Congress which party chief Sonia Gandhi had herself indicated in her address on Sunday.
