Rahul Gandhi's clout is growing

Sheela Bhatt explores and explains the Rahul Gandhi phenomenon and what it means for the Congress party and the nation's politics.

Last week in a single day Jairam Ramesh, Anand Sharma and Narayan Swami -- ministers and senior Congressmen -- visited 12, Tughlak Lane in New Delhi to see Rahul Gandhi, who is increasingly referred to as 'RG' in Congress circles.

More and more people from New Delhi and outside are seeking an audience with the young Congress general secretary. The 'dual centre of power' era of UPA-I is undergoing a transformation in UPA-II.

A new circle of power is emerging consisting of party President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In UPA-II, the troika presides over the destiny of a billion plus people without much opposition around them