Rahul Gandhi made his electoral debut from Amethi in 2004. A reluctant politician, I still remember how driving from the Lucknow airport to Amethi, it was Priyanka Gandhi who was goading him on to wave more aggressively to the crowds milling on both sides of the road showering rose petals on the brother-sister duo.

He went on to win Amethi but he remained an indifferent politician as was obvious when he made a high- profile visit to the two adjacent villages of Bhatta Parsaul near Greater Noida in May 2011. The villages had witnessed widespread farmers’ protests in May 2011 when their land was being forcibly acquired by the Mayawati state government. Police firing resulted in the death of two farmers, and 40-year old Rahul Gandhi arrived there four days later to get a first hand impression of what happened. I was part of the press contingent who covered his visit. The farmers were not particularly enthused by his presence only because they felt that he had done little during his six-year tenure in Parliament to gain their confidence. Several farmers saw him as a dynast who enjoyed power without a sense of commitment.

We are now witnessing a turbocharged Rahul Gandhi, who has finally agreed to accept the constitutional post of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament with cabinet rank allowing him to select parliamentary committees and also be part of selection committees that decide heads of crucial institutions including the CBI, CVC, CIC, EC and the NHRC.

In his new avatar, he is reaching out to the people, conveying to the public at large that here is a leader who is willing to show concern and compassion for the problems that they are afflicted by.

He visited Hathras on July 5 to meet the families of victims of the victims of a stampede that caused the death of more than 121 lives. His trip, stopping........

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