Enter another Gandhi 8212; Maneka launches son

PILIBHIT, AUGUST 30: Her's is a familiar face, but this time around, she has a companion who is arousing much curiosity. Playing the card...

PILIBHIT, AUGUST 30: Her8217;s is a familiar face, but this time around, she has a companion who is arousing much curiosity. Playing the card she holds closest to her heart, Maneka Gandhi has finally introduced her son, 19-year-old Feroze Varun Gandhi, to her constituency. Though his campaigning has been restricted to accompanying his mother to meetings, Baba8217; is expected to make his first public speech on Wednesday, according to party workers here.

Following in the footsteps of his cousins, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, Feroze Varun, clad in a white pyjama-kurta, has been on the campaign trail since yesterday. There are all signs that Maneka Gandhi will once again win the seat, so using Feroze Varun is not a vote-pulling ploy. It is perceived that her decision to allow her son into the limelight may have something to do with Rahul Gandhi8217;s sudden entry into the political field.

Feroze Varun8217;s initiation into active politicking, meanwhile, seems to be following a well-planned itinerary. Though he accompaniedhis mother to Pilibhit on Saturday, he did not venture out with her until the next day, when he attended meetings with her in the areas around Pilibhit. Maneka Gandhi8217;s speeches, on at least two occasions, made mention of her son. 8220;I want you to see dreams for your children the same way that I see dreams for my child,8221; she told a crowd of about 1,000 in a small village near Bisalpur. 8220;And this is my child,8221; she added, pointing to Feroze, who was standing nearby.

Though he initially stayed away from the dias, Feroze Varun seemed to be enjoying his first day out in the field. Often received as 8220;son of Sanjay Gandhi8221;, garlanded along with his mother, he reciprocated greetings with a namaste and a bow of the head, besides looking after his mother by giving her medicines she is recovering from the flu and assisting her with small tasks. 8220;It is not tiring at all,8221; he said, adding that he found it was 8220;all very exciting and can be very rewarding, if you can make a difference8221;. For him, helpinghis mother was only 8220;a natural step8221; since 8220;I am, after all, her son and I am practically the only family she had.8221;

On the trail itself, he prefers to listen carefully to his mother and, with considerable political maturity, responds to the crowd after gauging their reaction. Though initially hesitant, of late he has been straying from his mother8217;s side to mingle with the people. At a gathering just before Maneka filed her nomination papers for instance, while his mother addressed an audience, he was holding an impressive court of his own just a little distance away. 8220;It is good that you are getting to know your mother8217;s constituency better,8221; an old villager told the younger Gandhi in approval.

For both Maneka and Feroze, there are no grand waves to the masses that have become the trademark of Sonia and her children. 8220;I do not believe in charisma,8221; says Feroze, adding, 8220;In the long run, people respect the work you have done.8221;

Feroze Varun, who is studying at the London School of Economics, isalso trying to get a transfer to Delhi8217;s St Stephen8217;s. This could mean that he wants to take a more active interest in his mother8217;s political life. The thought has occurred to Maneka supporters in Pilibhit as well: 8220;Beta, you should look after your constituency, maybe you too can contest the election one day,8221; a Pilibhit resident told him.