Question

Why did the rebels declare bahadur shah zafar who was very old and powerless as their leader?

Answer 1

Bahadur Shah Zafar was being declared their leader by the rebels because none from rebels were ready to become the leader. Some of the rebels were openly hostile and helped the British to suppress the revolt and many rebels were worried about their own kingdoms and also, there was no other Indian king left at that time when rebels asked him. There was no one to lead all the states rather than Bahadur Shah Zafar. Peshwa, Nana Saheb and the son of the deposed Nawab of Lucknow, Birjis Qadr acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar. So, the rebels marched towards Delhi and declared Bahadur Shah Zafar as the Emperor of India, though he was not very popular, powerless and very old also.