Picture : ANI / X
The Bharat Jodo Yatra seemed to have rejuvenated Rahul Gandhi’s not only political career but also his image from a care- free one to serious politician. Godi media and the BJP continue to write him off but he keeps bouncing back and though they dislike him but cannot ignore him either . That is the quandary they are facing .
In his new position as leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha , Rahul Gandhi surprised many with his maiden speech in parliament touching upon host of issues, like Manipur, farmers’ distress, unemployment, BJP’s scant regard for constitution among others. He hit the right note . Rahul Gandhi’s body language looked confident and dressed in a white kurta pyjama he looked set for the role . His white T- shirt in parliament and outside has become the talk of the nation . So RaGa is on the move and yes Trending big .
Unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had not gone to Manipur ever since the state has been ravaged by violence, Rahul Gandhi showed the way not once but twice . He went there meet the people and and visited the relief camps and listened to their woes . And even asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state. The Prime Minister though is yet to reciprocate .
Incidentally , Rahul was in Manipur for the second time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Italy and Russia. And that was not all, when the media slammed Rahul for not keeping Wayanad interest in mind after massive landslides , Rahul was the first to visit on site to look at the situation on the ground . The Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed later . Clearly Rahul was setting the narrative .
The government did a massive U- turn on Lateral entry after Rahul Gandhi stepped up the attack . Gandhi scion alleged that the Narendra Modi government’s lateral entry policy into senior positions in bureaucracy was an “anti-national step“ as it was “openly snatching away” the reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs. Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister was “attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh instead of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)“.
On the tricky caste Census too Rahul Gandhi challenged the government to bring it out. Gandhi’s gung- ho was further boosted by a survey conducted by TV channel . Asserting that no power can halt the caste census after a survey suggested that 74% of the population was in its favour. Referring to India Today’s ‘Mood of The Nation’ survey, Gandhi added, “Hindustan’s order has come – Soon 90% of Indians will support and demand caste census. Implement the order now, or you will see the next prime minister doing it.”
It is not only Rahul who has backed caste census . NDA 3.0 ally and Union Minister Chirag Paswan (LJP( Ram Vilas) which has five MP’s in parliament too has backed the caste census . Chirag has pitched for a nationwide caste census but warned against making the figures public as it will lead to “division” in society. So , issues by Rahul Gandhi are backed by BJP’s allies too. Much to the agony of Godi media .
Rahul Gandhi has forced people to change their minds on him. Even if happens to be bitter critic of him. BJP leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani whose dislike for Rahul Gandhi and Gandhi’s , Congress is well known recently admitted in a podcast interview that there is change seen in Rahul Gandhi now .
According to Irani Rahul believes he has “tasted success”. She said from caste politics to provocative remarks, everything was a part of his new strategy. “Rahul Gandhi tried to woo voters of the nation (who are majorly Hindus) by visiting temples, but it did not work for him. So, his public relations manager advised him to use ‘caste’ as a tool to reach out to the masses and gain political traction.”
Irani alleged that Gandhi made calculated and strategic moves. She urged people not to underestimate Gandhi’s line of attack, saying, “So we shouldn’t be under the misconception about his actions – whether you find them good, bad, or childish – they are a different kind of politics.”
She said he made provocative remarks to remain in the spotlight and create headlines, citing his recent controversial remark about the lack of Dalit or Adivasi contestants in Miss India.
“He knows that Miss India has nothing to do with forming the government, but he still says things like that on social media. Because it makes the headlines,” she said. Even in parliament Irani says Rahul is targeting the youth by wearing the White-T shirt.
Rahul Has been setting narrative slowly – from lively candid interaction with Kashmiri women students where he discussed several topics: education, employment, politics, and marriage. His Visit to J& K was not without an agenda. Speaking to the party workers in Srinagar, Gandhi said, “It is our priority and also of the INDIA bloc to restore statehood in J-K as soon as possible. We had expected this could be done prior to elections, but it is okay, elections have been declared. It is a step forward and we are hoping that statehood will be restored as soon as possible and the democratic rights of the people of J-K will be restored.”
Rahul Gandhi said that it is the party’s aim for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh to get their democratic rights back. It is the first time since Independence that a state has been downgraded to a union territory, he said.
And at 54 , Rahul is fit too . The Gandhi scion recently showed his skill in Japanese martial arts form jiu-jitsu, a kind of self-defence training that discourages violent aggression. “On this #NationalSportsDay, I want to share our experience with all of you, hoping to inspire some of you to take up the practice of the ‘Gentle Art’. P.S.: Bharat Dojo Yatra is coming soon,” Rahul, who holds a blue belt in jiu-jitsu and black belt in Aikido, wrote on X .
During the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, as we journeyed across thousands of kilometers, we had a daily routine of practicing jiu-jitsu every evening at our campsite. What began as a simple way to stay fit quickly evolved into a community activity, bringing together fellow yatris and… pic.twitter.com/Zvmw78ShDX
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 29, 2024
No matter how much the Godi media tries to look away – Rahul Gandhi has clearly begun his own brand of politics and reaching out like no other and which has grabbed headlines – travelling in a Ola cab ,DTC bus to surprise of many . RaGa is here to stay and yes test the NDA 3.0 fully . For once labelled as Pappu this new avatar Of Rahul Gandhi is a major Transformation
