Power without Position - New Political Success Story

I have been reading with much interest the recent speculation about Rahul Gandhi not joining the Cabinet despite being requested by everyone in the party starting from the PM. While this is being percieved as a big move for the organization and the fact that he is not interested in power, I have a different perspective on this.
Ministership and position in government has been a symbol of power and influence and showing seniority within the party and peers across the political classes generally. However, if you do not need that symbol of power to show that you lead the party, then it is really not relevant to be in the fight of power.

It is also very convenient to be out of power and still be a power centre because it does not have any responsibility. Sonia Gandhi did not have to bear the brunt of the opposition parties directly because she was not the Prime Minister. She was not criticized directly on any issue because she was not a part of the government. I think Rahul Gandhi is looking to do the same by rising above the rest and therefore forming another club of people in power without position.

I think the first person to follow this would have been Gandhi himself - he led the people but when power came wanted to stay away from it and i think was very sharp to see all the downsides of power with the way he could manouver people against the establishment. He wanted to be loved and respected by all.

On the other side was Advani - who battled the last time on the national scale and was desperate to get power before he retired from public life. Similar was the case of Varun Gandhi and his need to win people over to get elected. This was the contradiction and in the end because of his self ease and confidence in being a power centre anyway - he was less desperate and had the edge.

In all of this, I am not trying to show one better than the other - the point that is being made is that if you do not need to get a position to show that you are successful or powerful in politics, your job can be easier.

I compliment Sonia Gandhi on identifying this at a crucial juncture in 200 and Rahul following that lead. It has some positives and some negatives but it definately sets the Gandhi family apart from the rest of the politcians as everyone else is either trying to be a minister or a position holder in the party organization. The Gandhi's though get an opportunity to show how they are above everyone else without actually being in any official position.