Rahul Gandhi's election: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar triggers controversy with 'Mughal dynasty' remark

Aiyar was quoted as saying to media: "When Shah Jahan came in the place of Jahangir, was there any election? When Aurangzeb came in place of Shah Jahan, was any election fought?It was known to all that the throne of the king will automatically go to the heir."

Aiyar made the reference to give a strong reply to the BJP who were making "dynasty" jibes in case of Rahul Gandhi's election.
Meanwhile, while addressing a rally in Gujarat’s Dharampur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said  Rahul Gandhi’s nomination for the post of Congress president is an indication of ‘Aurangzeb Raj’.

"Mani Shankar Aiyar said that ‘did elections happen during Mughal rule? After Jehangir, Shahjahan came, was any election held? After Shahjahan it was understood Aurangzeb will be the leader’. So Congress accepts its a family party? We don’t want this Aurangzeb rule," Modi said.

Modi and his party have been on  a systematic attack on the Congress for the "dynastic rule"  the party has been subjected to.

Earlier, while interacting with media in New Deli, Manmohan  Singh had said: "Rahul's (likely) elevation is another step by the Congress party to serve the nation."

"Rahul will carry forward the tradition of the Congress party" the former PM added.

Union Minister Kiren Rijijiu attacked Aiyar and Rahul Gandhi over the comment and tweeted: "Congress Party treats Rahul Gandhi and family as Mughal Dynasty !"

Rahul Gandhi is set to be declared elected unopposed as President of the Indian National Congress  after time expired  on Monday for filing of nomination for the party's top post with the 47-year-old leader remaining the sole figure in the fray.

According to media reports, as no other aspirant staked his claim, the coronation of Rahul Gandhi, at present the party's Vice President is only a matter of time awaiting an official declaration, which, however, is unlikely to be made on Monday itself.

Once declared, the Gandhi scion will be the 16th President of the century-old party, taking over mantle from his mother, Sonia, who has been at the helm of affairs for 19 years.

Rahul's elevation to the top post had been long on the cards with all the Congress veterans backing him and projecting him as the face of the organisation in a changed situation when Narendra Modi's BJP rules the roost in the country's political scenario.

Earlier in the day, Rahul filed his nomination at the party's headquarters. He was accompanied by, senior Congress leaders, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the event.

Present Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister  Manmohan Singh are  the proposers for Rahul's elevation.

Sonia Gandhi, who took over the Congress helm in May 1998, is the longest serving president of  the party.

Rahul took over as Vice President, the number two position,  in January 2013.

Image: Offcial Twitter page of Rahul Gandhi