At the time, this move generated surprise among political commentators, who had regarded his sister Priyanka as being the more charismatic and likely to succeed. Party officials did not have a CV ready for the media, such was the surprise of his move. It generated speculation that the presence of a young member of India's most famous political family would reinvigorate the Congress party's political fortunes among India's youthful population[14] In his first interview with foreign media, ee portrayed himself as a uniter of the country and condemned "divisive" politics in India, saying that he would try to reduce caste and religious tensions.[12] His candidacy was greeted with excitement by locals, who had a long standing affinity with the family's presence in the area.[13]
He won with a landslide majority, retaining the family stronghold with a margin of over 100,000 as the Congress unexpectedly defeated the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.[15] His campaign was directed by his younger sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.[citation needed]
Although he holds no other office and concentrates mainly on constituency issues and the politics of Uttar Pradesh, it has been widely speculated in the Indian and international press that Sonia Gandhi is trying to groom him for a chance to become a national-level Congress leader in the future.[16]
In January 2006, at a convention of the Indian National Congress in Hyderabad, thousands of party members asked for Gandhi to take a more promine
