The assembly election results show that he has proved his worth. It is now being talked about that he is all set to lead country's oldest party.

The top leaders of the party, which retained Delhi with an improvement in its previous tally, wrested Rajasthan from its arch-rival BJP and stormed back to power in North-eastern state of Mizoram, however, have not admitted this victory as Rahul's personal victory but an overall performance of the party.

However, it is generally admitted that Rahul Gandhi successfully attracted youths towards the Congress.

“He (Rahul) has established undoubtedly that he is the youth icon of India. He has also proved that he is the Prime Ministerial material,” said a senior Congress general secretary at the AICC headquarters, where low-key celebration is on. At the direction of the Congress president the party workers has kept the level of jubilations low in view of the killings of innocent people in recent terror strike in Mumbai.

With his splendid electoral performance Rahul Gandhi silenced those leaders within and outside the party who have been questioning his ability to lead the party to victory. In this recently held assembly polls Congress campaign trail was led by Rahul as her mother and party president Sonia Gandhi was unwell most of the time and addressed very few rallies.

The results of the assembly polls assume significance as they mark the beginning of the trend for next year general elections to the Lok Sabha. Voters brushed aside the much-hyped allegation and claim of the BJP that Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government has failed to stem terror.

The electorates have clearly told the BJP that a menace like terrorism could only be fought by rising above the party line.

The outcome is also a lesson for the BJP, which was riding on a negative campaign in Delhi and Rajasthan. The principle opposition party would now have to rethink on its entire electoral strategy.

The BJP leaders are now stressing that they will have to evolve a new strategy for the Lok Sabha elections.

Results have has certainly come as a great relief as well as moral boost for Congress. They now seems all set to take on the BJP and its allies in the next general elections.#