new delhi india main opposition congress party monday elevate rahul gandhi scion country fabled political dynasty president prepare challenge dominance prime minister narendra modi ahead national poll 2019. long-awaited move gandhi great-grandson india found prime minister jawaharlal nehru elect unopposed head party take rein mother sonia party longest-serving president since 1998. call historic occasion congress party say gandhi would take charge president dec. 16. television broadcast image party supporters celebrate distribute sweets outside congress offices capital new delhi financial hub mumbai gandhi ascent coincide state poll modi western home state gujarat shape test prime minister face criticism soften economic growth poor implementation nationwide sales tax congress hop round state elections offer party gandhi shoot revival ahead next national elections due 2019. modi depiction gandhi undeserving prince help sideline gandhi since last national election time congress suffer bad result local elections nehru-gandhi family rule country 70 years since independence britain gandhi father grandmother prime minister assassinate follow congress defeat 2014 poll gandhi struggle convince voters well many within party leadership skills senior congress leader ghulam nabi azad say gandhi ready next challenge entire country lot expectations rahul gandhi azad say much elect show mettle know responsibility modi bharatiya janata party bjp swiftly dismiss gandhi election say become president basis dynastic principle new india loath accept dynastic principle family character congress diminish appeal bjp spokesman g.v.l narasimha rao tell reuters gandhi vice-president congress widely see prime ministerial candidate party return power one day 47-year-old increasingly go public slam modi governance since last national poll look shed reticent image years synonymous political dynasty also face political backlash 2015 example take nearly two months leave prompt modi party accuse holiday parliament session modi still trump gandhi popularity rank however nearly nine 10 indians favourable opinion two-thirds satisfy direction take country pew survey find november modi favourable rat 30 point gandhi show india 's rahul gandhi take helm congress party challenge modi