Meet Rahul Gandhi, the new Congress president

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After serving the Indian National Congress as vice president for almost five years, Rahul Gandhi is all set to take over from his mother Sonia Gandhi and become the new president of the world’s largest democratic party.

He was elected unopposed as the last date of filing nominations for the post ended on Monday (Nov 4) with none challenging him.

The official announcement is expected on Tuesday (Nov 5).

While Rahul Gandhi gears up for his new responsibilities as new Congress president, here are 10 interesting facts about the youth icon:

1. Rahul Gandhi got his admission at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi in 1989 for his undergraduate education. However, he was transferred to Harvard University in the US after his first-year examinations.

2. After the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 1991, his son, Rahul Gandhi was shifted from Harvard University to Rollins College in Florida for security issues.

3. Not many know that he completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1994 under the pseudonym – Raul Vinci. Only university and security officials knew his real identity.

4. In 1995, Rahul Gandhi got his MPhil in developmental economics at Trinity College University of Cambridge.

5. With a foreign education degree in hand, Rahul Gandhi joined management consulting firm Monitor Group’s London office.

6. Despite threats to his life, Rahul Gandhi refused to take any security cover while working in the UK, saying he wanted a “normal” life.

7. Before joining politics, the Gandhi scion became a director of Mumbai-based technology outsourcing firm Backops Services Private Ltd.

8. Post his return from London, Rahul Gandhi was quite open about his relationship. At a 2004 press conference, he told media that his Spanish girlfriend Veronique was an architect and from Venezuela.

9. Known for speaking his mind, Rahul Gandhi, who is all set to be the new Congress president, was arrested once in his lifetime, that too, by the Uttar Pradesh Police on May 11, 2011, while he was on his way to meet the agitated farmers of Bhatta Parsaul village.

10. Rahul Gandhi had his own method of campaigning. He is often seen visiting common people’s house, having lunch with the poor and spending time with the “Aam Aadmi”. The ideas have both been praised and criticized.

Big Wire