They are suave, articulate, sophisticated, have graduated from prestigious colleges and, most importantly, have politics in their genes. They are the young Turks of Indian politics - promising to mature into seasoned politicians.
Well, that's not enough to impress the hardnosed Americans, a confidential diplomatic cable leaked by WikiLeaks said.
The young Lok Sabha MPs in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's United Progressive Alliance-II (UPA-II) don't have the USP that would make Uncle Sam dance around them.
The cable sent after the 2009 general elections said the majority of young MPs in the Lok Sabha were mere scions of powerful political families.
"(Hence) they could represent a continuation of the 'old guard' Indian political establishment rather than any substantive change. Others have been handpicked by Rahul Gandhi, and for them loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is the primary political anchor," it said.
The US cited the political lineage of Sachin Pilot, Agatha Sangma and Jyotiraditya Scindia to make its point. It said these three young ministers "owed their election and jobs to their parents". "Most of the young MPs from the 15th Lok Sabha are from political dynasties, coupling youthful vigour with instant name recognition and deep ties to the old guard political establishment," the cable said.
The youth wave in Parliament was more hype than substance, it added.
The leaked cable said at 26, the youngest voice among the "political rookies" was Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed and he too has politics in his blood. "He represents the sole seat from the island of Lakshadweep, which he contested after the death of his father, P. M. Sayeed, the former Union power minister." In another cable, a US embassy official said Rahul Gandhi tried to deflate criticism over only a handful of "youngsters" making it to the council of ministers - that too as junior ministers and none in the cabinet or with an independent portfolio.
"Rahul Gandhi was careful to note that younger members should not expect cabinet seats immediately. Responding to criticism that the first 19 members of the cabinet included no one under 55, Rahul said being a Lok Sabha member was a full- time job and that new members would be better off learning their jobs rather than setting their sights higher," the cable said.
Rahul told the US embassy official that 79 of the new Lok Sabha's 543 members were under 40. But the US was not excited about this generational shift in Parliament.
According to the leaked WikiLeaks cable: "Despite the clamour and excitement generated in the media by the young MPs, it is not clear if these new legislators will prove to be a formidable force in national politics. While the new crop of leaders may be modern in their outlook and western-educated, most of them were either handpicked by Rahul Gandhi or are relatives of successful politicians.
In the end, these younger MPs may represent no significant change in the old guard of the political establishment.
The cable, however, mentioned that MPs such as Meenakshi Natarajan and Ashok Tanwar had risen through the ranks from the ruling Congress's student wing. Simply put, these MPs were stewed over slow fire and had fought hard elections battles.
Tanwar, part of Rahul Gandhi's handpicked clique, was appointed president of the Youth Congress in 2005. Similarly, the eloquent Natarajan was another Rahul Gandhi protégé who was secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 2008.
The Americans tried to balance their criticism with a spattering of praise. Scindia has been called articulate, "active participant in parliamentary debates" and a prominent voice among the younger generation of Congress leaders. Pilot has been dubbed "a rising star" and was assigned the communications and IT portfolio to keep an eye on his boss, A. Raja. "There is also speculation that Pilot is a better fit because of his technical orientation and youthful vision," the cable said.
Uncle Sam said young Turks were elected owing to their family's loyalty towards the dynasty
Wooing Cong's scion...
FOR the Americans, the 2009 elections groomed the Congress's heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi into a serious politician.
If many viewed the 40-year-old as "dilettante", the Congress's victory in elections anointed him as the "rising political star". The latest tranche of leaked US diplomatic cables reveal how the Americans were keen to open their channels to him, if not directly then to his band of young ministers and politicians, who will form the formidable coterie around him.
A June 2009 cable says: "Over the past four years, he was an elusive contact, but he could be interested in reaching out to the US, given a thoughtful, politically sensitive and strategic approach on our part. We will seek other opportunities to engage with him and with other promising young members of the new generation of parliamentarians." Another leaked cable, describing him as a young man in a hurry, added: " While his party work will professionalise and democratise Congress, it will also create a cadre of party loyalists which will be useful as Gandhi moves into a position where he can be a credible candidate for Prime Minister." The US aimed to cultivate these loyalists.
Another cable talked about Rahul mentioning " 60 members of the new Parliament were 45 or younger. In a system long viewed as relatively static, the influx of new faces and the rising profile of young leaders like Rahul Gandhi provides us an opening to expand the constituency in support of the strategic partnership with a long term horizon." Another listed his trusted lieutenants: "Rahul's transition from privileged scion to key political player has been practically aided and abetted by his trusted team - a judicious mix of experienced Congress hands and young professionals." About the new women MPs, a cable said "most are either handpicked by Rahul or are relatives of powerful politicians". Pratul Sharma/ Delhi
The young turks of indian politics...
Sachin Pilot
Two-time MP from Rajasthan's Ajmer constituency. He is the son of late Congress heavyweight Rajesh Pilot, who was killed in an accident.
Agatha Sangma
MP from Meghalaya and the youngest member in the council of ministers. Is the daughter of NCP leader and former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma.
Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed
Represents the sole seat from Lakshadweep. Contested the seat after his father, ex-Union power minister P.M.Sayeed, died.
Jyotiraditya Scindia
MP from Madhya Pradesh and from the former royal family of Gwalior. Entered politics after his father, veteran Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia, died in a plane crash.
Meenakshi Natarajan
MP from Madhya Pradesh's Mandsour constituency. She was handpicked by Rahul Gandhi to serve as AICC secretary in 2008.
Ashok Tanwar
He represents Haryana's Sirsa constituency. Part of Rahul Gandhi's handpicked team, he was appointed president of the Youth Congress in 2005. He was NSUI president earlier.
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