When Rahul Gandhi was formally anointed to the number two position in India's Congress party, his installation as vice president was accompanied by the usual shenanigans among party operatives.

Nine years after the grandson of Indira Gandhi — and the son of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi — entered politics, the highest decision-making body of the party unanimously has passed a resolution to raise the profile of Rahul, until now just one of 11 general secretaries of the Congress.

In the past few years, senior party leaders have been falling over themselves in demanding that Gandhi, 42, be given a greater role in the party. So now, after having been in charge of the Youth Congress and other such organizations within the party, he has taken center stage as Congress prepares for parliamentary elections in 2014.