It was in midst of the General Elections Lok Sabha 2024 viewers when Prime Minister Narendra Modi in one of his many interviews to his four -member Godi media panel of interviewers mocked at Rahul Gandhi saying – Kaun Rahul? prompting a huge laughter among the foursome !. Well that Kaun Rahul is back in the 18th Lok Sabha as Leader of the Opposition.
The Congress party whom the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his numerous rallies predicted would get their lowest ever tally and would struggle to reach 50 had to eat their words . Congress bagging an impressive 99 . It was not only PM Modi , Defence Minister Rajnath Singh mocked Congress that the party would become extinct like dinosaur . and the Godi media’s Chanakya Amit Shah saw Rahul taking out a Congress search yatra as he visualised the GOP’s decimation and mocked Rahul Gandhi’s numerous yatra’s .
BJP viewers left no stoned unturned to humiliate him – MP membership was suspended, house taken away , Grilled By ED over National Herald Case for 50 plus hours. Yet he remained firm and strong . Did not wilt . This resolve in taking on the BJP and the RSS bowled the public and enhanced his image as serious politician . He dared to visit strife torn Manipur, where to visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not have time .
Unfazed by the Godi media’s onslaught 24 X7 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated Shehzade jibe . Rahul Gandhi became the voice of the masses . His Bharat Jodo Yatra enabled him to connect with the people and raise the pressing common man’s issues – unemployment, prise, rise, agniveer scheme, among others. It struck a chord . The news anchors on prime time laughed it off as useless effort . Congress party exuded confidence and it was proved right.
The media went after Rahul for not contesting from Amethi and contesting from Wayanad . He took up the BJP gauntlet and silenced all by winning from both the constituencies. Having to vacate one seat as per Lok Sabha rule, Rahul Decided to retain Rae Bareli , the seat that was held by his mother former Congress president Sonia Gandhi ( who is now Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan). Wayanad though will not be without Gandhi’s though ( Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to make her much awaited political debut as she will contest polls from here whenever it happens) . Rahul retaining retaining Rae Bareli is important and sends a strong message that it will be continuation of the superb alliance with Samajwadi party of Akhilesh Yadav. The SP – Congress alliance stunned Modi Shah, Yogi bagging 43 seats in Lok Sabha polls and demolished the BJP’s euphoria of the Ram Temple . SP bagging 37 to Congress 6 ( Amethi included with KL Sharma stunning Godi media favourite Smirit Irani ) . Congress wants to keep the momentum going it seems is the message .
Following the splendid poll success from where Congress and Rahul Gandhi were written off. It was natural that tha larger role in parliament awaited Rahul Gandhi . After the unanimous resolution in the CWC urging him to take up the role of the Leader of the Opposition, the decision to nominate Gandhi for the post was announced after a meeting of floor leaders of the INDIA bloc at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence.
“Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) wrote a letter to Pro-Tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab, informing him of the decision to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Other office bearers will be decided later,” senior party leader KC Venugopal said.
Besides cabinet rank , He will part of key panels which appoints – Lokpal, CBI Chief, Chief Election Commissioner, Selection Of Chief Vigilance Commission, the Central Information Commission , NHRC. The Prime Minister heads all such panels. The Gandhi scion is now entitled to meet the visiting heads of state as per the protocol .
It will be first constitutional post in his Rahul Gandhi’s two decade political career beginning in 2004 . The Gandhi scion has relished the opportunity to take on the BJP , RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This LoP position gives him that chance. Opposition is strong in 18th Lok Sabha unlike the one in 17th and with Rahul Gandhi at the helm one can assume it will be combative as well as constructive one. The NDA 3.0 will not have it easy.
हा हा हाहा
कौन राहुल?
ये है राहुल!
ये तो ट्रेलर है. आगे आगे देखो होता है क्या?@RahulGandhi @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/FFbzQditKS— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 26, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lamented in an interview he missed a good opposition. The onus is now on him to accept the views of the opposition and not use parliament as a notice board as aptly pointed by senior Congress leader and four- time Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor. It is a test for not only Rahul Gandhi as Leader of the Opposition but also Prime Minister Narendra Modi to live up to his word of taking everyone along .
