The Washington Post article penned by Rana Ayyub has discovered a fascinating political phenomenon, Rahul Gandhi is apparently the “new” leader of Gen Z. The only minor problem with this discovery is that Indian media has been calling Rahul Gandhi a young leader for almost two decades. For how long will he remain a young leader? Never mind, nobody in India does.
In a recent Washington Post opinion piece, journalist Rana Ayyub argues that Rahul Gandhi is connecting with disillusioned young voters and that India’s Gen Z is helping revive his political fortunes. The article presents this as a significant transformation in Gandhi’s political image after years of ridicule and electoral setbacks, but does it?
For the Washington Post. On Rahul Gandhihttps://t.co/PgUcCMBYpg pic.twitter.com/VtZ0cKVRxR— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) September 6, 2026
For the last two decades, Rahul Gandhi has been projected as the “new leader” who will take Congress to new heights, and Congress has been slumping to new depths under his leadership. The situation is so bad that Congress was celebrating just 99 seats during the last Lok Sabha elections.
Rahul Gandhi entered Parliament in 2004, that was before most of today’s Gen Z voters had even learned how to complain about their internet speed.
By 2007, he was already general secretary of the Youth Congress and NSUI. By 2013, he had become Congress vice-president. By 2014, he was being projected as the PM Candidate.
Rahul Gandhi has been marketed as the young face of Indian politics since the era of flip phones, Orkut (you remember?) and 2G jokes.
There have been several versions of this “young Rahul Gandhi” story.
First came Rahul Gandhi, the young politician who would supposedly modernise Congress. Then came Rahul Gandhi, the young leader who would challenge Narendra Modi. Then came Rahul Gandhi, the young alternative to Modi. Then came Rahul Gandhi, the young leader who needed more time. And now, apparently, comes Rahul Gandhi, the Gen Z leader, at 56.
This is perhaps the most impressive youth program in Indian politics, keeping the same “youth leader” label alive for nearly 20 years.
At this rate, Rahul Gandhi may eventually become the elder statesman of the Indian youth.
