Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a key figure in the Indian National Congress, turned 55 on Thursday. Born into the prominent Gandhi-Nehru family, he continues to play a pivotal role in Indian politics, shaping the Congress party’s direction and vision.
Wishes Pour In from Across Political Spectrum
Rahul Gandhi’s 55th birthday saw wishes coming in from across party lines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: “Birthday greetings to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life.”
Birthday greetings to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life.@RahulGandhi
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 19, 2025
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also extended wishes: “Greetings to the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Shri @RahulGandhi on his birthday. May he be blessed with good health and a long life.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, in a heartfelt message, said: “Warm birthday wishes to my brother-in-ideals, @RahulGandhi — bound not by blood, but by thought, vision, and purpose. May you continue to stand firm and lead with courage. In our march towards a brighter India, victory shall be ours.”
NCP Working President Supriya Sule posted on X: “Wishing Leader of Opposition – Lok Sabha, @INCIndia Leader Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) Ji Happy Birthday. Have a Healthy Year Ahead!”
Rahul Gandhi: Early Life and Education
Born on June 19, 1970, at Holy Family Hospital in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi is the elder son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi. His early years were shaped by the violent political turmoil of the 1980s, especially after the assassination of his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, in 1984. For security reasons, Gandhi was homeschooled for much of his youth.
He began his higher education at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and later moved to Harvard University. Following the assassination of his father in 1991, he transferred to Rollins College in Florida, completing his bachelor’s degree in 1994. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Trinity College, Cambridge, and worked briefly with a consultancy firm in the UK before returning to India.
Political Career and Key Milestones
Rahul Gandhi entered politics in 2004, winning his first Lok Sabha election from the family stronghold of Amethi. He retained his seat in the 2009 elections and gradually rose through the party ranks. In 2017, he officially succeeded Sonia Gandhi as the Congress President.
Despite leading an aggressive campaign, the Congress party fared poorly in the 2019 general elections, leading him to step down as party president. He also lost his Amethi seat and was able to retain only Wayanad constituency.
However, Gandhi continued to remain a visible and vocal opposition leader, especially through public campaigns and social outreach.
One of his most significant political initiatives has been the Bharat Jodo Yatra (2022–2023), a mass outreach campaign aimed at uniting the country beyond political and social divides. In early 2024, he followed it up with the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which spanned the east-west axis of the country.
In the 2024 general elections, Rahul Gandhi contested and won from both Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala. He later chose to retain Rae Bareli, a seat formerly held by his mother, Sonia Gandhi. He currently serves as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
