#Politics | Congress leaders to allies, wishes pour in as Rahul Gandhi turns 53

"May you continue speaking truth to power and be the voice of millions of Indians, while spreading the message of compassion and harmony," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (Express file photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

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As former Congress president Rahul Gandhi turned 53 on Monday (June 19), wishes poured in from leaders cutting across party lines.

Mallikarjun Kharge, the current party president, took to Twitter to wish Rahul. “Your unflinching commitment to Constitutional values and your indomitable courage in the face of adversity is admirable. May you continue speaking truth to power and be the voice of millions of Indians, while spreading the message of compassion and harmony,” he wrote.

Warm birthday greetings to Shri @RahulGandhi.

Your unflinching commitment to Constitutional values and your indomitable courage in the face of adversity is admirable.

May you continue speaking truth to power and be the voice of millions of Indians, while spreading the message…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 19, 2023

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also sent Rahul birthday greetings via Twitter. “Your dedication and commitment to public service is truly inspiring,” he said, adding, “May this year bring you immense happiness, good health and more strength to bring positive change”.

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Rahul Gandhi was born to Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi on June 19, 1970, in Delhi. (Express Archive)

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He spent his initial years in the National capital of Delhi and Dehradun. (Express Archive)

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Former PM Indira Gandhi with grandson Rahul, who turned 53 on Monday (Express Archive)

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Indira Gandhi with her daughters-in-law Sonia Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi and grandchildren Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi at the Shanti Vana on May 5, 1981 on the occasion of Jawaharlal Nehru's death anniversary. (Express Archive)

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Former PM Rajiv Gandhi is seen consoling his young son Rahul Gandhi at the funeral of Indira Gandhi. (Express Archive)

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Gandhi pursued his undergraduate studies at St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi before moving to Harvard University in the United States of America. (Express Archive)

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Rahul Gandhi is seen lighting the funeral pyre of his father Rajiv Gandhi at Shakti Sthal. (PTI/ Archive Photo)

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In view of the security threats that followed the death of his father, he moved to Rollins College in Florida and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1994. (Express Archive)

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Subsequently, Gandhi went on to pursue and complete his M.Phil from the Trinity College, Cambridge in the year 1995. (Express Archive)

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After finishing higher education, Gandhi initiated his professional vocation with a management consulting firm in London, The Monitor Group. He later returned to India and established a technology outsourcing firm in Mumbai called Backops Services Private Ltd. (Express Archive)

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In Picture, Rahul Gandhi is seen posing with the newly married couple, Robert Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi. (Express Archive)

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Rahul Gandhi announced his entry into Indian politics in March 2004. (Express Archive)

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He contested from his father’s constituency of Amethi. (Express Archive)

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Later, Gandhi also took over the responsibilities of the the Indian Youth Congress and National Students’ Union of India. (Express Archive)

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He was the second in command as the Vice president of the Indian National Congress in 2013. (Express Archive)

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Rahul became the president of the Indian National Congress in 2017. He stepped down in 2019 following the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. (Express Archive)

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In March this year, Rahul Gandhi’s membership of Parliament was cancelled following his conviction and sentencing by a local court in Surat. He was an MP from Wayanad. (Express Archive)

Sending warmest birthday wishes to Sri @RahulGandhi.
Your dedication and commitment to public service is truly inspiring.

May this year bring you immense happiness, good health and more strength to bring positive change.#HappyBirthdayRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/y0rG9NrfE6

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) June 19, 2023

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar also extended greetings to Rahul and said, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Shri Rahul Gandhi ji on his birthday. Wish you a healthy and long life.” Nitish has been engaged in bringing together the Opposition under the Congress’s leadership for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

श्री राहुल गांधी जी को जन्मदिन पर हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं। आपके स्वस्थ एवं सुदीर्घ जीवन की कामना है। @RahulGandhi

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) June 19, 2023

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin called Rahul ‘dear brother’ and said, “We have a long journey ahead of us to save the democratic ethos of India. Let us march together”.

Birthday greetings to dear brother Thiru @RahulGandhi. We have a long journey ahead of us to save the democratic ethos of India. Let us march together.

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 19, 2023

Stalin’s party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is an ally of the Congress.

DMK MP Kanimozhi also wished Rahul and said, “Wishing him good health, joy, and success on his path of combating fascism, which brings great hope to our ongoing struggle to preserve India’s diversity and restore an inclusive society.”

Best wishes to Congress Leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on his birthday. Wishing him a healthy and happy life and success in all his future endeavors.@RahulGandhi

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) June 19, 2023

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, too, greeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his birthday. “Heartiest birthday wishes to Shri @RahulGandhi ji. Wishing you good health and a wonderful year ahead!” she tweeted. The two are scheduled to visit the Bihar capital later this week to attend a meeting of top Opposition leaders.