When the 2004 elections resulted in victory for the Congress Party and its allies, Sonia Gandhi could have become Prime Minister. However, she declined and bequeathed the highest position to Dr. Manmohan Singh. By rising above the craving for power and position that exists in politics, she showed that her vision for India was truly different. Ever since she reluctantly began to make her presence felt in the political arena, Sonia Gandhi's vision has always been the formation of a strong and stable government to protect and promote secular values and communal harmony in this country. WHAT IS THE CRUX OF SONIA GANDHI'S VISION FOR INDIA? Sonia Gandhi's vision for India is multifaceted, with numerous goals, but the bottom line where she is concerned, has always been improving the lives of the aam aadmi. The stature of a leader is not only measured by electoral success but also by the vision which guides the party and this is where Sonia Gandhi has successfully infused dynamism and a forward looking approach. For instance, her refusal to give way on the Indo-US nuclear deal could have cost her party its majority in parliament. However, she refused to back down on the issue because she truly believed that all Indians would reap the benefits of the deal in the long run. Despite opposition from certain quarters, she highlighted the fact that the civil nuclear deal was in the interest of the country, helping to meet the power requirement and boost electricity generation. Her firm stand paid off and the Congress Party coalition successfully reiterated its majority in parliament. By promoting the rural employment scheme and the waiver of farmer loans, Sonia has made it clear that India's growth would not be restricted to urban areas alone. With her at the helm, the Congress Part has a clear vision for the country's progress and development. WHAT HAS BEEN RAHUL GANDHI'S ROLE IN THE CONGRESS PARTY SO FAR? Assisting Sonia Gandhi in implementing her vision is Rahul Gandhi who successfully contested the May 2004 elections, standing from his father's former constituency of Amethi. The young politician has strived to infuse young blood into the party and promoted the appointment of youthful leaders at key positions. With his young age and clean image, Rahul is able to connect with the youth of India who form the majority of the population. He has successfully struck a chord with the aam aadmi by personally visiting rural areas, sharing meals with villagers and firsthand understanding their problems. With his enthusiasm and positive approach, Rahul has quickly established himself as a leader to watch out for on the national firmament. HOW HAS THE CONGRESS PARTY INCORPORATED SONIA GANDHI'S VISION DURING ITS TENURE AND IN ITS MANIFESTO? Implementing the vision of the leader of the Congress Party has ensured that the UPA Government managed to fulfill almost all promises made during the previous elections in 2004. The Congress Manifesto for the 2009 elections again reflects Sonia Gandhi's vision, with Small Industries, Employment for Youth being given highest priority along with infrastructure in rural areas. Her vision is to establish a secular India, focus on high growth and low inflation while providing health, security and education for all. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE RAHUL GANDHI'S LEADERSHIP STYLE? Rahul Gandhi is a stable and responsible politician who has a low key but hands on approach. During the initial phase of his entry into politics, he did not take any post and declined to immediately seek a higher profile role. Instead, he focused on strengthening rural India at the grassroots level, meeting people across the country and genuinely reaching out to the masses. This showed that he is not hankering for power but wants to understand the problems faced by the aam aadmi and find sustainable solutions. Rahul Gandhi was appointed a general secretary of the All India Congress Committee and also given charge of the Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India in 2007. Since then, he has been actively involved in identifying youth leaders who can play a more prominent role in nation building. WHAT HAS BEEN THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF RAJIV GANDHI'S VISION AND POLICIES FOR INDIA? Rajiv Gandhi's emphasis on getting young people into politics is the reason why India has so many young politicians playing a key role in the political setup. Rajiv Gandhi is revered for his foresight and for his IT vision. Today, India is reaping the benefits of that vision. Today Indian software companies are respected all over the world, children in Indian schools have access to computers and the entire country has successfully managed the transition to computerisation from banks to the postal system. His vision brought the country into the IT and telecom age and due to that India is considered an IT giant and has made rapid progress in the Internet era. (Excerpts from an interview of Kripashankar Singh, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) Chief with Outlook Spotlight)