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Rahul GandhiBorn to lead: The challenges ahead of Table of contents The speech How Rahul Gandhi’s VP speech made Congress weepy Rahul: Democrat on weekdays, privileged prince on weekends Does Rahul owe Priyanka, Pitroda for his ‘badlav’ speech? Highlights from Rahul Gandhi’s emotionally charged speech 04 06 09 10 Rahul vs Modi? Rahul vs Modi: They both face the same challenges Looking beyond Chintan Shivir: Is it now Rahul vs Modi in 2014? Rahul vs Modi: Who has the edge in Mahabharat 2014? 12 14 15 Great expectations Cong projects Rahul as PM candidate, says only he can lead ‘young India’ Why it’s a tough road ahead for Rahul Gandhi Can Rahul Gandhi really ensure the Congress’ victory in 2014? Not just a Number Two: Rahul Gandhi can transform Congress ‘Son rise’ in Congress: It’s too soon to write off Rahul Gandhi 19 21 23 24 26 Reactions Rajiv Gandhi did not deliver on promises, so will Rahul? Rajiv’s speeches were inspiring, Rahul spoke like an Oppn leader: BJP Rahul’s elevation in Cong comes as no surprise: BJP 29 32 33 Copyright © 2012 Firstpost The speech Copyright © 2012 Firstpost Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was the first to greet him after he spoke at the Congress’ Chintan Shivir in Jaipur and was reduced to tears. According to a report in the Indian Express. Rahul Gandhi managed to hit all the right notes.made Congress weepy The elevation of Rahul Gandhi to the vice president of the party was an emotional one. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reportedly wiped tears and the normally unemotional Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . mother and father over the years and his learning within the party. with references to his mother. FP Politics. and didn’t aver from criticising the party’s functioning. with many Congress leaders left wiping their eyes after his speech at the party’s Chintan Shivir. at least with the party’s senior leaders and those present at the Chintan Shivir. father and grandmother. Jan 21. But with a speech that tugged on emotional chords. 2013 How Rahul Gandhi’s VP speech I t is rare to see a politician in India show any emotion. needing Rahul Gandhi’s handkerchief to wipe them off. Rahul Gandhi reportedly left many battle hardened Congressmen and women dewy eyed. In a speech that drew on his experiences with his grandmother. over. Even the Telegraph in an article notes the charged atmosphere after Gandhi’s speech with many eyes welled up and even the Prime Minister reaching out to the Congress leader in a ‘bear hug’ with a wide smile on his face. and other party activists in India. But for many insiders within the party this speech by Rahul Gandhi. the emotional display by leaders is bound to be viewed with a fair amount of skepticism and maybe rightly so. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . if not relief. before breaking down and inviting Sonia Gandhi to make her remarks.party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi. Congress. In a party where the Gandhi family has held sway for decades. the report stated. Celebrations were also held across Delhi with party workers going over each other to celebrate his elevation within the party. called Rahul ‘Prakash kunj’ and ‘Eklavya’ in a speech. might just be worth shedding a few tears of joy. The article also describes the emotional reaction by many present at the venue with women activists breaking down and some charging towards the stage with shawls. are given to wild shows of emotion for their leaders in a bid to prove their devotion or loyalty. coming after months of will-he-won’the despite their earnest pleadings over the years. flowers and whatever else they had in their hands. The hysteria over his elevation was evidently visible outside the venue of the Congress’ Chintan Shivir as well with party workers reportedly clamouring to meet with him and express their support for his elevation. a show of emotion not something too many can claim to have seen. might find that he’s a misfit in an absolute monarchy. of ending the era of lal battis. For the first time we heard the semblance of a political vision. in the same way we must give a voice to the people in governance. 2013 hen a 42-year old pillar of the establishment sounds like a youthful anti-establishment hero. whose cry for change echoed among all those excluded from traditional power structures. and however much it sounded like a newspaper editorial. Yet his speech as Congress Vice President was his best so far. Sonia’s leadership is imperious but tough. why do politicians appoint vicechancellors. fulsome tributes and streaming tears from family loyalists. scatters the coteries. firmly bound to the family.Rahul: Democrat on weekdays. the rulerturned attacker of status quo. A party accustomed to being driven by a monarch listened bemused as the heir apparent held forth on the need to transform the nature of power. born into VIPhood who grew up with Indian democracy as his playground. why is power centralised and operating behind closed doors. comparing Rahul to a Rajiv Gandhi. of ending closed door remote leadership. particularly after the emotional recollections of his grandmother’s assassination and father’s courage. or genuine idealism. the prince-turned rebel.Barack Obama Two-in-One. Since 2004 the Congress has stayed together as a team only because Sonia has ruled it like Indira II. But Rahul. Sonia Gandhi’s greatest success over the last 10 years has been to rule the party like a regent. a cynical ploy to capture the youth. our freedom movement gave a voice to millions. it was surprising to hear that a child of supreme power so comprehensively understands the predicament Copyright © 2012 Firstpost The Congress’ chintan shivir at Jaipur which anointed Rahul Gandhi as Congress Vice-President was a shivir awash in emotion. firmly uniting potential traitors and discontents into an army loyal to the NehruGandhi flame. When Indira Gandhi’s grandson announces the need for ‘badlav’ or change in the way power is exercised or in the way systems function. privileged prince on weekends Rahul Gandhi is trying to have the best of both worlds. why do we respect position and not knowledge. Obama was an outsider in the Washington elite. He’s a democrat during the week but a prince on weekends. Sagarika Ghose. After Rahul’s speech. can he escape his own responsibility in upholding those very systems for the 9 long years he’s been at the pinnacle of power? W of competitive loyalty. Rahul Gandhi is a third generation political aristocrat. it keeps the Congress firmly in check. Rahul may find that ruling the Congress like a wannabe-democrat confuses the courtiers. Jan 22. and disappoints the power seekers and troops. The chintan shivir was a carnival . Congressmen were in spasms of euphoric delight. Some of the ideas were undoubtedly interesting: Why do ministries do the work of panchayats. a fawning fiesta of gush gush praise. exercising queenly supreme power and placing dynasty at the centre of the Congress’ existence. it’s either a delusion. and power is a poison that must be used to empower the weak and not pursued for its own sake. silence is in fact his default mode. where is Rahul Gandhi) he remained closeted away in silence. with just 28 seats. Rahul has once again lapsed into customary silence. “no comment” on FDI in retail. which contained shockingly draconian measures to gag the press. To remain. Rahul was the face of the UP assembly polls last year. a rural Scheduled Caste hut became the site of a brief overnight stay of the messiah and his foreign friend. But this lecture on power and how to wield it. but Congress slumped to fourth place in UP even falling behind the BJP. to slog. leave his room doors open to party cadres at all hours. “no comment” on price rise or economic reforms. like an adventurous night spent in a museum. refusing to venture among those braving tear gas and water cannons. During youth protests against corruption Rahul remained absent. In fact. slog year after year a la Mamata Banerjee. but Nitish swept to power. In his speech he analysed those protests as clinically as an editorial page writer. Congress got just four seats. Let’s not forget that Rahul’s father tried to bring in the Anti-Defamation Bill to curb the media and his grandmother imposed the Emergency. “no comment” on women’s safety. her plight designed to spice up a point in a rare speech. Kalavati. So far its “no comment” on 2G. He never speaks on the grave issues of the day. the youth icon showed that. constantly talk to the press and constantly give interviews. in whose name Rahul made a speech during the trust motion in 2008. (all the young are here. her hut a pit stop in his whirlwind visitations. persistently and with unflagging stamina. this is the stuff of vocational politics. this moral science class from someone who has so far failed to notch up any political successes. take up a single cause year after year. Is Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . In 2009. but he didn’t seem to feel any emotion for the an- guished young people in whose name he leads his party. On two important occasions. toil on the streets a la Mayawati. that is the life of those whose personal lives and private spaces have long ceased to exist in the pursuit of a political mission. the Vidharbha widow. “no comment” on Pakistan. his boys night out at a Dalit hut with visiting British Foreign secretary David Miliband was seen as urban poverty tourism. Rahul campaigned hard in the 2010 Bihar assembly elections. remains a now forgotten statistic in Rahul’s discovery of India. Rahul has so far not given a single full length interview. day in and day out among the cadres. not seen at any of the rallies or saying anything in solidarity with the impassioned crowds. During the Delhi gang rape protests with thousands of young people pouring onto the streets chanting “saare yuva yahaan hai Rahul Gandhi kahaan hai?”. Rahul’s well publicised UP padyatra yielded some good photo ops.was all set to bring in the Print and Electronic Media Standards and Regulation Bill. his close associate Meenakshi Natarajan.of the system. “no comment” on Anna Hazare. in sharp contrast to his grandmother’s elephant-riding Belchi moment. could easily be cast as the woolly headed pipe dream of a university undergraduate writing an original term paper. After his speech on Sunday. rather than the words of a seasoned politician who has the stamina for hard 24*7 politics. he failed to gauge and seize a political opportunity. but a gaffe on skeletons under mounds of ash in Bhatta Parsaul (a statement later revealed as totally false) struck a bit of a blow for Rahul’s credentials as a leader of dispossessed farmers. Obama and Cameron constantly communicate. a first time MP from Mandsaur was keen to bring in a bill that muzzles the media. build a vast network of samajwadis whose names you know by heart a la Mulayam. Natarajan – known to be a Rahul favourite with a determinedly grassroots deglamourized style . sometimes disgruntled with the system. But ‘badlav’ (change) will not come from speeches made from the pulpit of inherited leadership. by lecturing on systems change while jetting off on reportedly exotic holidays.Rahul’s championing of democratisation and giving people a voice in the power structure. now a change agent. True ‘badlav‘ can only come from a thorough-going self. The dual persona runs the risk of neither being able to perform the highly efficient monarchical-style holding operation of his mother. Sagarika Ghose is Deputy Editor CNN-IBN Copyright © 2012 Firstpost .a. sometimes revelling in its privileges. This dual persona is risky. He’s a democrat during the week but a prince on weekends. a complete break from his own lifestyle in Delhi and either moving to Lucknow or away from the VIP enclaves and centre of power in Lutyensland. He flip flops between dynast and democrat. a genuine article of faith or was that well. a man of the masses Monday-Friday. This means physically displacing himself from here and going there to live and work among the cadres 24*7. Rahul is trying to have the best of both worlds. in a shrinking political space. now a prince.crafted speech simply a clever camouflage for someone who still exercises power without accountability? In a landscape dominated by powerful regional satraps.transformation. of his grandmother. By trying to be a democrat from the position of a king.of. a man of the classes on Saturday and Sunday.leader. in a Congress party riven by factionalism. nor being able to pull off the populist-style image makeover as a “peoples.people’s party”. Rahul may well be the genuine idealist trying to transform the way the Congress perceives itself. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost eteran Congress party leaders were emotional and dewy eyed as they listened to Rahul Gandhi‘s acceptance speech after he took charge as the vice-president of the party. Understandably. Does Rahul owe Priyanka. he reportedly had a few butterflies in his stomach. the .Pitroda for his ‘badlav’ speech? Sam Pitroda and sister Priyanka Gandhi allegedly helped him put together the speech that moved many a battle hardened Congress leader. Jan 22. The success of the speech can perhaps be attested to the fact that many senior Congress leaders. with some leaders calling it his ‘Obama moment’ and others pointing to it as the coming of age of the so-far reluctant party leader. were left wiping tears from their eyes. Pitroda reportedly made substantial contributions to the speech and it was vetted by sister Priyanka Gandhi before it was finalised. even though the speech was being made before his own party members and he reportedly walked out during his mother’s speech and returned only while the Prime Minister was getting done with his speech. but Sam Pitroda and sister Priyanka Gandhi as well for making it the tearjerker that it was . Whether it was after hearing the speech or out of relief can’t be said. Read the full text of Rahul Gandhi‘s speech here or watch him give his speech here. including Chief Ministers Sheila Dikshit and Ashok Gehlot. 2013 report said quoting unnamed sources. But if a report by the Indian Express is to be believed the credit for the Congress leader’s spirited speech goes not only to him. While Rahul is said to have written the speech. V FP Staff. . Five years from now. He was terrified of what lay ahead of him. And I will fight for the people of India and for this party. Some of the highlights: . Copyright © 2012 Firstpost .emotionally charged speech Highlights from Rahul Gandhi’semotionally charged speech. . .Last night my mother came to my room and she sat and cried. .There are people in high positions with no understanding of issues – this happens because we respect position not knowledge. The people of India are now my life.India is more connected today.The Congress needs leadership development. But I saw a glimmer of hope. .The Congress party is my life. That hope has brought India where it is today. IANS. .The corrupt talk of eradicating corruption and those who disrespect women talk of women’s rights.As a boy I loved to play badminton because it gave me balance in a complicated world. Right to Information allows every Indian to take on the battle against corruption. . Until we start to empower people. 2013 aipur: Newly-appointed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi gave an emotionally-charged speech Sunday at the Birla auditorium here while addressing the All India Congress Committee session on the last day of the ‘Chintan Shivir’.The Food Bill will ensure that no mother sees her child go hungry at night. . They killed my grandmother and took way the balance. Highlights from Rahul Gandhi’s J . we can’t change anything in this country. I was taught by two policemen who protected my grandmother and were my friends.The youth is angry as it is alienated. we need to create 40-50 leaders who have the potential to run the country. She can see it because she is not attached to it (power).In the evening I saw my father address the nation. It is no longer possible to limit an idea whose time has come (referring to Aadhar and direct cash transfer). Jan 21. Because she understands that the power that so many seek is poison. Rahul vs Modi? Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . the Congress would like to project it as a secular versus communal divide. Rajdeep Sardesai. What is true of sports is certainly true of politics. a Tendulkar’s true genius was tested in his contests with a Mcgrath. the other a polite gent.Rahul vs Modi: They both face the same challenges For a news editor. Which is perhaps why political pundits have rushed to predict a Rahul Gandhi versus Narendra Modi battle in 2014 even before the bugle has been sounded for the general elections. the other claims to represent Copyright © 2012 Firstpost here is nothing journalists and the viewer love more than a ‘big fight’. Modi is the great communicator. 2013 Indian politics. the other who represents an alternate worldview of Hindutva nationalism. but the legend is enhanced because of his battles with a Nadal. it is a catchy headline and the contrast between the Congress’s dimpled ‘Prince’ and the BJP’s macho ‘Pracharak’ is too striking to be ignored. Jan 24. One can be a rabble-rouser. One is celebrated as an icon for a ‘neo-middle class’. One a child of privilege. One who claims to be the legatee of the idea of a Nehruvian India. the other talks of reforming ‘systems’ but has no ministerial experience. it is a catchy headline and the contrast between the Congress’s dimpled ‘Prince’ and the BJP’s macho ‘Pracharak’ is too striking to be ignored. A Roger Federer is a great tennis player. The BJP likes to present the contrast as ‘dynasty versus meritocracy’. Rahul appears uncomfortable in large public gatherings. For a news editor. blessed with the most enduring brand name in T . the other a child of hardship whose father was not even a sarpanch. Modi wears the badge of CEO-style governance as his calling card with panache. Both Rahul and Modi are also also change agents within their own party. as he described it. The Congress party organisation has only one glue that holds it together: The First Family. be a sell-out battle for the Congress and the BJP loyalists. He has tried to recast his image as a growth oriented chief minister. Mamata. therefore. The chemistry will convince you that that most of these regional players have no fixed loyalties and a number of them will be ready to mix with any combine that gives them a shot at power sharing. challenging the existing status quo. Rahul’s vote catching abilities remain largely untested. In a party notoriously resistant to change. almost flitting in and out of the heat and dust of politics. Modi too has to live with the reality that in states like Bihar with a large Muslim population. In Gujarat. regional satraps like a Nitish Kumar are unwilling to publicly share a platform with him. What Rahul’s ascent and Modi’s likely emergence can do though is enthuse the rank and file of their respective parties. What to an outsider is evidence of chamchagiri is seen by the party worker as the very basis of his existence in the Congress fold. Pawar. And yet. only a Modi-like figure can give the BJP a sense of self-belief that it sorely lacks at the moment. There are other parallels too. the newly assertive caste groups want a large slice of the power cake and are not dependent on old style patron-client relations. Uttar Pradesh has moved well beyond any emotional attachment to the Nehru-Gandhi family. Nitish. He is now being asked to prove that he is indeed ready for a long haul. more youthful leadership. is being challenged to acknowledge his failure to control the Gujarat violence of 2002. ready to be a 24 x 7 neta and not a distant. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . Mulayam. Clearly. desperately needs a charismatic face to boost the morale of its cadres. The BJP too. Both Modi and Rahul are leaders in the age of coalition politics. For the last nine years. that Rahul has found it difficult to translate his good intentions into any radical overhaul of the party structures yet. Naveen Patnaik. AP Which is also perhaps why the pundits who are pitching the next elections as Rahul versus Modi have got both their maths and chemistry wrong. Modi wants reform from within too. Unfortunately. Rahul versus Modi will. neardictatorial style of functioning is looked on with suspicion and even fear by his detractors within the sangh parivar. The writer is editor-in-chief of CNN-IBN. the arithmetic will tell you that the next election will be won by whoever is able to aggregate the maximum number of potential kingmakers – Mayawati. Modi’s individualistic. be prepared for a surprise political grand slam contender. and one which is guaranteed to attract eyeballs. inaccessible figure. Jayalalithaa. and are now confronted with the prospect of the increasingly shrinking social and geographical bases of the so-called ‘national’ parties. Modi has succeeded in virtually wiping out the traditional sangh leadership in the state. regional satraps like a Nitish Kumar are unwilling to publicly share a platform with him. Rahul is attempting to ‘democratise’ the Congress by opening it up to a new. In a highly competitive and diverse political space. even a Jagan – under one large tent. ‘the poison of power’. has so deeply coursed through the veins of the Grand old party. Modi too has to live with the reality that in states like Bihar with a large Muslim population. but the baggage of not having done enough to stop the killings of Muslims in the riots remains a black spot that cannot be erased only through well packaged sadbhavana yatras. Rahul has been a bit of a political butterfly. In a party wedded to the notion of ‘collective leadership’ and which is still controlled by an extra-constitutional RSS. Modi atleast has proved himself as the supreme leader of his home state. but to effect a similar transformation in the balance of power between Nagpur and the parliamentary wing of the BJP may prove a shade more difficult. A Rajnath Singh as party president can only be the result of a desperate compromise formula. Both in the first instance are being asked to live down their past. For the rest of India. in a presidential style race. Modi versus Rahul is a delicious prospect.the aspirations of a young India beyond the bright lights. As Rahul found out last year. the irony is that Modi and Rahul face similar challenges. Modi too. “It seems to be reasonably clear the next election is to be a frontal confrontation between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi.Looking beyond Chintan Shivir: Is it now Rahul vs Modi in 2014? It is certain that Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi are going to play key roles in the next Assembly elections. “Before this speech of Rahul Gandhi everyone was talking about the rise of the regional parties in the next election. former editor of The Hindu did not agree with the notion that the next election is going to be just about Gandhi and Modi. the Congress or the BJP.” Ram said. Jan 21. But will they be the only ones to rule the roost when it comes to a verdict at the Centre? N FP Staff. ow that Rahul Gandhi‘s been elevated to the post of vice president within the Congress. However.” He pointed out that the Congress has been deliberately putting out secularist statements in Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . Therefore avoiding the more important issue of governance in the past ten years. N Ram. he said. thus ratcheting up a secularism-communalism divide. does it now set him up as the prime contender for the post of Prime Minister against Narendra Modi. 2013 the media to provoke the BJP. Speaking to Sagarika Ghose on a late night discussion on CNN-IBN.” he added. who is most likely to lead the BJP in the next Assembly elections? According to senior journalist and columnist Swapan Dasgupta. So the possible outcomes of the election will be a combination of the regional parties and one of the major national parties. it is now clear that the next election will be a Rahul vs Modi fight. “The Congress is going to fight this election on the issue of secularism-communalism divide. Plus. But Rahul is no match for Modi as a communicator. for in his party there is no challenger. even if they are not officially declared their prime ministerial candidates. With central leadership or in the states – will ensure the coronation of Rahul Gandhi at the that he has a free run. It is thus worth speculating on how such a battle will be fought. But next come the crucial differentiators. it is becomhe asks for. A preliminary Swot analysis is in order: Rahul Gandhi starts with an initial advantage.Rahul vs Modi: Who has the edge in Mahabharat 2014? Rahul will try to distance himself from his government’s recent record. and the party is India’s most federated organisation. 2013 ollsters and psephologists must be emerge – whether in the youth wing or in the smacking their lips in anticipation. Nobody can. So score 1-0 for Rahul on his initial challenges. Scores still level. It is more than probable. therefore. unlike the Congress. P R Jagannathan. Jan 22. ing increasingly apparent that the title bout in 2014 will be between Narendra Modi and Rahul Modi has strong grassroots party support. but down this angle for their own reasons. Rahul will get whatever recent Congress Chintan Shivir. But it is not unreasonable to presume that Modi and Rahul will be their parties’ respective standard bearers. though both sides will be eager to play is certainly first among equals in the party. there is parental interference – from the RSS. Every BJP Chief Minister is a power centre. They will also crucially determine campaign strategies. The winner will be whoever succeeds in making voters forget their past. Modi will have more challenges before the anointment than Rahul. that both Rahul and Modi will be their parties’ chief campaign managers with a major say in who gets to run and who does not in the next elections. Modi and Rahul also have similarities of a sort. Modi will probably make mincemeat of Rahul when he is in form. and Gandhi. of course. The Congress’s refusal to allow any alternative power centre to Score 1-1. Neither Congress nor BJP is likely to announce their candidatures in advance – for the former because it does not want to saddle Rahul with any defeat. predict how the next general election will pan out – there is simply too much time between now and 2014 or even late 2013. There is no doubt at all that the Congress will Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . and the latter to avoid deterring potential allies. and what strategies the two sides will adopt. the BJP is not a singlepower-centre party. Modi will try to get the electorate’s mind off 2002. where it believes it has a natural advantage. etc. His party is even more feudal. Now. youth and middle class vote – and both parties will probably have strong manifesto promises for youth and urban India. In fact. a 42-year-old Rahul should be streets ahead of a 62-year-old Modi in garnering the youth vote. the more it will get caught in the same perception that it is communal. Modi probably has a small edge on the youth vote. Shinde. Modi demonstrated in Gujarat that youth is about an attitude of mind. It will also allow him to defer a decision on the hanging of Afzal Guru – something Shinde does not appear keen to do. party’s political attack dogs – the likes of Digvijaya Singh. Scores: 3:3 at this stage. Rahul is far behind in understanding the aspirations of the middle class and the youth – as the BJP’s sweeping victories in Gujarat’s urban centres showed. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s remarks on BJP-RSS terror camps were not an innocent slip of the tongue. both Modi and Rahul will perhaps draw level on this count. success in Gujarat is not easily going to rub off in other states. Modi’s best hope must be to keep absolutely quiet on communalism and focus only on development and governance in the hope that the Congress will lose credibility by attacking the BJP too much. Telangana and Assam to the BJP’s advantage. But in practice. The Congress will harp on this theme outside Gujarat. and especially in UP and Bihar. For the BJP. communalism is a no-win game. their best bet would be to focus on the Congress governance record and economic failures of UPA-2 – where Modi stands out as a performer in his home state. and force it to make dangerous statements to polarise votes further. etc – will go hammer and tongs at the BJP-RSS connection and try to force Modi and his supporters to hit back in ways where there can only be further complications. development. let’s look at the strategy that could come from the Modi camp. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . The score now tilts 2-1 in favour of Congress. it’s worth looking at the youth factor. The entry of Modi will allow this to happen naturally. Rahul looks youthful. Bihar. for the harder it tries to defend itself. but the task is more complicated since there are serious regional players in the game. In theory. Its best chance is to shift the focus of the debate to communalism. The Congress strategy on communalism will thus be two-fold: while Rahul will take the high ground and talk about meeting the aspirations of youth. too much talk of the Gujarat model will only irritate voters outside Gujarat as they would want to know what is in it for them and their state. Rahul did acknowledge the importance of looking at the causes of urban anger and disenchantment.make communalism its major plank to overcome anti-incumbency. the Congress is hardly in great shape to defend its record in governance. What he is trying to do is to force the BJP on the defensive on terror. not age. which will be very significant in 2014. On balance. and believes in old-style freebies and sops to win votes. If there are real strategists here. But in his recent Chintan Shivir speech. Modi entices youth with his energy and understanding of what they want. Modi’s could focus on economic governance where he scores over the Congress record at the centre. The decision to include the BJP (and not just the Sangh) in his linkage with terror is deliberate. Modi may himself be tempted to play a subtle communal card in the hope that there is a reverse Hindu polarisation in states like UP. One assumes he will address their concerns. unless Modi is able to force a focus on different issues. After making a mess of the economy and facing serious corruption charges. but has an old feudal mindset. Given the strong undercurrent of regionalism. The central idea will be to put the BJP permanently on the defensive on communalism. However. even if it means giving Pakistan a free ride on this propaganda self-goal. Next. in order to polarise the Muslim vote. A lot would depend on how the two parties try to woo the urban. However. he could talk of the Bangladeshi influx. This tilts the final score at 5-4 in favour of Rahul. Modi will try to get the electorate’s mind off 2002. But one point is important: at 150-plus seats. secular versus communal will be a major campaign element in this battle. In the ultimate analysis. At 150-plus seats. the following conclusions seem likely. Even if Rahul has a theoretical edge. we are more likely to see a Federal or United Front of regional parties in power with outside Congress support. a purely neutral analysis is unlikely to be anywhere close to a realistic assessment of what will happen in 2014. Scores 4-4. Without 180 seats. all bets are off when it comes to the final battle where guts. and too many new imponderables may emerge out of the blue. If he is hoping for a reverse Hindu consolidation. both to get the BJP more seats in hitherto weak states (UP. In UP. but Rahul’s will be neutral. etc). The Congress will try to paint Modi as pro-rich. He also has the option of anointing a PM – like his mother did with Manmohan Singh. while the BJP will try to tie Rahul to the Congress’ actual economic track record. Five. the BJP will have to provide a leader other than Modi to run a government. One cannot rule out a bitter and dirty fight over this issue. in Assam. As things stand now. The winner will be whoever succeeds more in making voters forget their past. the key to 7 Race Course Road will run through state capitals – Modi will have to have a viable state-level strategy. grit and gumption count for as much as elevating rhetoric. Rahul has the advantage of not raising hackles among any sort of ally – from Nitish Kumar to Navin Patnaik. governance will be a bigger issue than corruption. and to create future allies. rich versus poor will be a major issue while discussing development. with outside Left support. Rahul will try to distance himself from his government’s recent record. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . freebies and cash transfers – which may continue to give Congress an edge in rural areas while Modi gets an edge in urban areas. both Modi and Rahul will try and convince the electorate that they are more than their past – or their parties’ past. Too many things can change. the Congress would be an acceptable option at the centre. but their ability to tailor state-level strategies that will work for them. Here. As against this. the Congress can still form a government like UPA-1. now that both Congress and BJP seem tainted by it. Modi is a not a realistic contender for PM. Rahul has the luxury of making his plans after the elections and choosing allies with the right numbers. One. Modi has to seek it through proxy – for example. he can talk of Hindu-Muslim unity to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya. A Lok Sabha general election is often a bunch of state elections aggregated as a national vote.Modi should articulate his Gujarat model and development policies in regional terms rather than a repeated invocation of his own state’s approach. the search for allies has to be more strategic. The general assumption that he will find it tougher to get allies is not founded on any realistic assessment of post-poll political realities. Modi’s personality will be both a plus and a minus. Four. Two. At less than 140 seats each. Three. For Modi. This arithmetic implies that Modi has a higher hurdle to cross than Rahul. the Congress will continue to hold the high card of rural empowerment. even if pre-poll rhetoric needs allies to keep their distance from him. The most important element in the Rahul-Modi clash will not about ideas or policies. Great expectations Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . describing it as “historic push forward” for Congress. “India is young and you are young” and “only Rahul can lead Congress to power again” was how some party leaders hailed the elevation. PTI.” Kerala Congress Committee Chief Ramesh Chennithala said today.says only he can lead ‘young India’ Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as the Congress Vice President and his address at the AICC meeting has led to jubiliant partymen projecting him as the Prime Ministerial candidate who can lead the party to power again. N ew Delhi: Rahul Gandhi‘s elevation as the Congress Vice President and his address at the AICC meeting has led to jubiliant partymen projecting him as the Prime Ministerial candidate who can lead the party to power again. Jan 21. “Gandhi’s elevation has been a morale booster for the younger generation of the country and I feel he is the 2014 Prime Ministerial candidate of the party and I have no doubt people of the country will definately back his leadership. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . 2013 Cong projects Rahul as PM candidate. he said. Chennithala. UPA III doesn’t seem far and there’s lot to be still done for the common man. System must change for the better. people need you. as there is hope and dynamism. “Get ready to script a new chapter in the politics of the nation as the old make way for the young.” “…. Give up cynicism and channelise your new ideas in taking Odisha forward. The process of change (parivartan) has begun and we are sure that the youth will take active part as critical change agents. guide us and take us on path of regeneration and national renewal.” Shastri said. “It’s only Rahul Gandhi who can lead the Congress to power again.All eyes are on Rahul Gandhi now to lead the party to 2014 elections…. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . Odisha needs people who understand the state and are committed. Patnaik lauded Congress President Sonia Gandhi for giving the party an opportunity to work more closely with the 42-year-old leader. We see in you the future of the nation and the party. Odisha needs new ideas.” he said. Let all come together and support Rahul to change the system.” Rahul’s speech yesterday reflected the anger. Chennithala said that his leadership would take the party in the right direction. Present system is feudal and archaic. Shastri said. Patnaik targeted the BJD government in the state.” Noting that Rahul Gandhi is committed to transforming India. anguish and dreams of the youth. “Rahul Gandhi is the Vice President of the party.” Patnaik said in a press release. Party leader Anil Shastri in his comments on the microblogging site Twitter said. Describing the Jaipur Chintan Shivir of the party as “great success. Lead us. This is the best thing that could have happened to the Congress in the New Year. Patnaik and Shastri had attended the Chintan Shivir where a decision to elevate Rahul was taken. “India is young and you are young. Is not responsive to people’s aspirations. “All like minded parties should support him in this cause. Patnaik also asked the youth in Odisha to take part in the process of building a better and stronger nation by supporting Rahul’s leadership. saying Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has “no vision for the future”.Niranjan Patnaik said that the state Congress plans to encourage more youths by giving them key functions within the party. “Rahul Gandhi faces enormous challenges during the coming polls as his leadership skills would be tested. that emerged from the three-day 18-20 January introspection cum strategy session Chintan Shivir appeared to have lost significance once Rahul was made the vice president. told IANS. The Nehru-Gandhi family scion would also be expected to spell out his position on various national issues clearly as he now holds an official post in the Congress. he would also have to accept the blame in case of a failure.for Rahul Gandhi While any success in the elections will bring him credit. crave for better systems of governnance and want accountability from the politicians and the government. And his mother. Rajasthan. understood it better than anyone else. will be a major task for the new Congress vice president. who are angry over corruption in the system and other social issues. 70 percent of whom are below the age of 35. making him the presumptive prime ministerial candidate of the party for the 2014 general elections. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost The Jaipur Declaration. Jan 22. he would also have to accept the blame in case of a failure. He heads the party’s coordination panel for the 2014 polls. Reaching out to the youth of the country. But the road ahead is paved with umpteen obstacles and uneasy will lie the head that is likely to wear the crown of thorns. Rahul Gandhi is also expected to restructure the organisation and give key roles to younger leaders so the party is able to reach out to the voters. and four in the northeast — will test his leadership skills. who teaches political science at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Why it’s a tough road ahead J Nine assembly polls — five big ones in Delhi. who came to his room and cried on Saturday night. The return of the third edition of the Congressled United Progressive Alliance in 2014 will also depend on how the Amethi lawmaker is able to restructure and re-energise the party for the big political fight.” Zoya Hasan. Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. where the Congress will have direct contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party. converting his de facto status into de jure one. that Gandhi alluded to when he talked about the “poison” that came with such heavy political responsibility and the personal risks that come with it. 2013 aipur: A special Congress session over the weekend formally launched Rahul Gandhi as the official number two after party chief Sonia Gandhi. IANS. . While any success in the elections will bring him credit. but the battle is half won and testing times lie ahead for the 42-yearold fifth generation leader of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Karnataka. Party insiders said the decision was getting postponed for a while due to reservations among some senior leaders on giving him the official number two position in the grand old party. to the Congress camp from which they stood quite alienated over perceptions of corruption. In an impassioned speech. Rahul struck an emotional chord when he related how his mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi cried when she met him after he was made the vice president and moved many leaders to tears. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . but stood up as soon as he finished his speech and were seen competing with one another in congratulating him. The move to make him vice president. is significant and has mentally prepared the senior leaders to accept Rahul as their leader. especially the “restless and impatient” young. which marks a generational shift in the 127-year-old party. keeping in mind that 70 percent of the voters in the country are under 35 years of age. Over 50 senior leaders who shared the dais with Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the session. Now he has to set things right.“His speech after being made vice president pointed out many wrongs in the party.” she said. But the members of the Youth Congress and National Students Union of India and the younger leaders in the party – who comprised a third of the 350-odd delegates at the session – made strong demands for his elevation. The question now is whether he will be able to bring the middle class. misgovernance. not only heard Rahul with rapt attention. inflation and insensitivity to issues that concern them. Rahul made it clear that he does not hanker for power and stressed the need to transform the party’s systems and develop new leaders at all levels while saying the youths must be involved in decision making. Rahul had arrived. ” Dasgupta said. the columnist said. There was some kind of divine right underlining his speech. “We don’t have a clear idea of his ideological make-up. we do that Sonia Gandhi is a social democrat and she supports welfare schemes for the underprivileged extensively. impassioned speech and all. Rahul has only supported these measures sporadically.” Ram said. According to him. Watch Video Speaking to Sagarika Ghose during a late night discussion on CNN-IBN.” he said. “He is talking about decentralisation and after all MNREGA is a horribly centralised scheme. “He is going to rule the minions. said former editor of The Hindu N Ram. But does that make him a game changer for the Congress in 2014 elections? FP Staff. Jan 21.Can Rahul Gandhi really ensure the Congress’ victory in 2014? Rahul might have impressed the rank and file of Congress leaders by his impassioned speech and self critical tone. He does not make it clear to what end he desires change. unlike Sonia. However. Senior journalist Swapan Dasgupta was also skeptical of Rahul’s speech and said it seemed to be from the same stable of dynastic politics that the Congress and the Gandhi family have been accused of perpetrating. one is also not clear about Rahul’s political positioning and thus he risks the chance of being misinterpreted. It has no provision for modification by the implementing states. young leaders were impressed by his speech and do want him to step into a leadership role. he will be prey to the very ills that he had vouched to fight for in the speech. “All we know of him is that he is an obsessive Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . make him a game changer for the party in the run up to the 2014 elections? No. Like. However. he said.” he said. “Rahul’s programme lacks details. 2013 oes Rahul Gandhi‘s elevation to the post of party vice-president. D organisation man.” According to Ram. Sonia Gandhi will be the patron. Will he shape the destiny of the Grand Old Party of Indian politics Sanjay Singh. He is a self proclaimed seeker of knowledge. as mid way into his speech he got a standing ovation from the audience and those at the dais. when he decided to speak what he felt. not what they wanted to hear. he would be the de-facto Number One. Like his father Rajiv Gandhi.Not just a Number Two: Rahul Gandhi can transform Congress For the Congress workers his speech clicked. His mother’s grim face and moist eyes added whatever was left to bind them to him. Sonia who had gone through the emotional grind wept in relative isolation of his hotel room because she perceived power as poison. So. as mid way into his speech he got a standing ovation from the audience and those at the dais.” He also spoke of how he woke at 4 am and went onto the balcony.” He thanked his mother. all I want to say is. elevated to the position of command but felt frustrated by the prevailing system of client-patron and it was thus his duty to correct it. He sprinkled his maiden speech as vice-president with many personal anecdotes of tragic family events. we shouldn’t forget the responsibility that come with it. understanding and compassion. to a majority of over 1500 delegates gathered at the AICC conclave in Jaipur. I am not a pessimist. He was not going to be just the face but also the final court of appeal: “I will be the judge not the lawyer. he claimed the innocence of a youthful outsider. Why? Because she knows that power is poison and she has seen it in its worst. that with power. His mother. How his mother. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress party for the building blocks that Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . Jan 21. Congress President. 2013 R ahul Gandhi‘s coronation speech as Congress’ vice-president gave clear hints that while he may have been officially or emotionally designated as Number Two. who would love to see him exercise all powers that lakhs of Congress workers had bestowed upon her for so long. He was not content to just look at ways to better the system because “there was no system” in place. I have known it my life. If he claimed innocence of an “eight-year” old beginner in politics. he had learnt the tricks of the trade faster and in times to come he would unfold his plan “transform the system”. also of hope. “She wept. as the man who would shape their destiny and of that of the Grand Old Party of Indian politics. “Decisions were taken behind close doors by few empowered people who did not represent the will of the masses…mediocrity dominated all round…” — good compassionate words that were music For the Congress workers his speech clicked. in the dark and cold. “Yes I am optimistic. he also sought to impress his party and the voting public that he was not a novice.” he said earlier today. He was out to sell a dream to his own party men in particular. where an outsider would paratroop at the time of elections and then fly out after losing it had all been there in last year’s Uttar Pradesh elections where he was directly at the helm. His democratisation of youth Congress.helped him transform the system. selection of youth who became MPs and MPs who became ministers of state and further elevated to Independent charge or Cabinet rank mostly have a rich dynastic lineage. “Even those who were corrupt spoke of eradicating corruption”. The prospects are of huge electoral excitement. Rahul Gandhi‘s problem is not his speech or intent but his delivery and track record in supposed transformations that he has so far carried out. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . whoever were left in the state. 5-10 in every state anyone of whom can rule that state. “Learn to praise your colleague. not just for the Congress party but much beyond that to the people at large if UPA3 has to come into existence after 2014 polls.” The promises that he made were good to generate hope among those gathered who believed in him as their leader and religiously kept chanting for him throughout the day inside or outside but his test lies in delivery. Pitted against him would be the BJP strongman Narendra Modi. It did boost morale of the party men when he said workers should be respected and leaders at all levels. The prevalent ills that he talked about in ticket distribution. The Samajwadi and Bahujan Samaj Party rebels and turn coats were welcomed with open arms and most regular workers. “we have to build 40-50 leaders who will run the country. respect knowledge and understanding” was his mantra to them. Today he spoke like a management consultant suggesting remedies to transform the system in a party. he said drawing a similar parallel to criminal politicians. instead of reinforcing his vision of equality and democracy. were not considered worthwhile in ticket distribution and kept at arms length even during the heat of campaigning in Uttar Pradesh. This perpetuates further. in the government and organization should open up beyond their chosen few to listen to them. but as Prime Minister. the only distinguishing feature of whom was that virtually all of them were themselves the fruits of subdynastic politics within the Congress. The passage of time. After his formal anointment as party vice-president on Saturday. untrammelled power can be wielded without responsibility and accountability. ‘Son rise’ in Congress: T tics. As the National Herald land scam case showed. And when that mission is accomplished. Even notionally apolitical sons-in-law get to ride the gravy train and profit unduly from being a part of the Dynasty. It’s hard to say with certainty whether Rahul Gandhi was ever serious about weaning the party away from its dynastic instincts.It’s too soon to write off Rahul Gandhi When you’re a Rahul Gandhi. on the other hand. he would have been borne aloft the hot air of chamchagiri and inflicted upon the country. The Congress party. which is something of a Nehru-Gandhi family heirloom. Any victory. there will always be countless “fall guys” within the party to accept moral responsibility for electoral losses. but he himself was working to rejuvenate it through inner-party democracy. however. Certainly he went about trying to hold elections to the Youth Congress and infuse some fresh blood. Rahul Gandhi has in the past confessed to a keenness to “work his way out of a job. One reason for this could be that there is far too much at stake for the First Family to forego all the trappings of power. the party will no longer be tied to dynastic apronstrings. will be attributed to his “Chanakyan politics”. But it’s perhaps just as true that Rahul Gandhi has valiantly overcome his own sense of selfdoubt and increasingly sees himself in messianic terms.” so to speak. which manifests itself everytime he steps out of his comfort zone of carefully corralled crowds. inhibited him from taking on a larger role despite the many intimations of his imminent arrival. But when the old order within the party struck back. diehard Dynasty worshippers within the party had practically been chanting the Rahul Gandhi chalisa and asking for the yuvraj to be coronated – not just as party leader. 2013 here is a certain air of inevitability to Rahul Gandhi‘s ascension to the No 2 post in the Congress party. For months now. Venky Vembu. who belong to the First Family of Indian poli- . the Congress is today a business empire more than a political party. Jan 20. he surrendered too tamely and fell back upon a group of trusted courtiers. he suggested. And as Sonia Gandhi has demonstrated over the past eight-plus years. he claimed he Copyright © 2012 Firstpost Were it not for the fact that Rahul Gandhi’s own lack of self-assuredness in politics. appears to have dimmed Rahul Gandhi’s ardour to render the Dynasty irrelevant. privileges people like himself. In rare moments of earnestness. he claimed. Watch how the Congress spin doc- tors project it as a “Rahul Gandhi-engineered victory” and set him up for 2014… Media commentators are already salivating at the prospect of seeing a galactic battle in 2014 between a Rahul Gandhi-led Congress and a Narendra Modi-led BJP. Another such opportunity presents itself in Karnataka. given that the Congress appears to have residual inhibitions about making it a Presidential-style election which will amplify Rahul Gandhi’s limitations. the BJP would be better off addressing its own organisational limitations that keep it from leveraging on the UPA government’s many follies of the past four years. and leaders of the BJP have airily dismissed him as a political lightweight who won’t change the game for the Congress in any significant way. If it does come about. If it yields. the BJP is under RSS pressure to reappoint Nitin Gadkari as its president for a second term. “In the last eight years that I have worked with the party I have seen it is a great organisation and together we will transform the country. where Assembly elections later this year will likely see the BJP lose its foothold in the South. Perhaps they rejoice too soon. Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat – where Rahul Gandhi’s exertions failed miserably. When you’re a Rahul Gandhi. there will always be countless “fall guys” within the party to accept moral responsibility for electoral losses. Rather than rejoice over Rahul Gandhi’s anointment. ”I have great experience.was looking to “transform India”. Any victory. will be attributed to the “Chanakyan politics” of Rahul Gandhi.” Critics of the Congress have been mocking Rahul Gandhi’s elevation. as happened after the 2009 general elections. But there is no certainty of such a contest. They perhaps take heart from Rahul Gandhi’s patchy record of recent months and years – in Bihar. Even today.” he said. it will have appointed as its president about the only leader who can match Rahul Gandhi for his inability to inspire. It will also validate the belief that the BJP is infinitely capable of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. it will be the sharpest clash of political ideas and personalities that we will have seen in a generation. on the other hand. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . Reactions Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . so will Rahul? Rahul Gandhi spoke the language of the “outsider” looking to change the system. Rajiv Gandhi delivered one of the most searing indictments of the political and administrative “system” as it existed then. And. 2013 hose of us who have been around a fair bit in this world will need no reminder of this. worse. which. but Rahul Gandhi. but in our preoccupation with governance we are drifting away from the people. Rajiv Gandhi did not deliver T In 1985. Thereby. became Prime Minister in tragic circumstances following the assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi. the original Mr Dimples who had been living a charmed life. Rajiv Gandhi was particularly harsh on the Congress party. Venky Vembu. and attempted to channel the power of India’s youth and usher in a generational change in Indian politics. Speaking as an “outsider” to the system (which he truly was). A generation ago. but he is a consummate insider to the system that he says is flawed. who made an emotion-laced coming-out speech at the Congress chintan shivir retreat in Jaipur on Sunday isn’t the first person with photogenic facial dimples to charm diehard Congress supporters – and more than a few members of the media brigade. he said. Rahul Gandhi‘s father Rajiv Gandhi.” ”We are a party of social transformation.on promises. he is a direct beneficiary of the flaws in the system that he riles against. Jan 21. the year the Congress party turned 100. we have weakened ourselves and fallen prey to the ills that the loss of invigCopyright © 2012 Firstpost . had “shrunk” from a party that had once fired the imagination of the masses to a party that had lost touch with people and was being controlled by “power brokers” and “self-perpetuating cliques. who was truly an outsider to the system when he made his 1985 critique of the Congress. Rahul Gandhi is . who is now positioning himself as a consummate “outsider” who is looking to “transform the system”.) But the striking thing was that Rahul Gandhi ap- propriated the language of the street protestors led by. And. worse. the decent dimpled bloke who had charmed a nation some years earlier had been reduced to mouthing crude turns of phrases directed at Opposition leaders. the only person in whom Rajiv Gandhi has bestirred “nani” memories is his son Rahul Gandhi. and virtually everyday he meets people holding high positions who have a tremendous voice. Entangled in the Bofors kickback scandal. his mother Sonia Gandhi. there was nothing Obama-esque about the speech. (Other than the fact that like Obama.orating mass contact brings. In his speech at the Congress retreat on Sunday. but the Congress has been in power at the Centre for all but a handful of years since Independence. a consummate insider to the system that he says is flawed. it needs to be said. he said. but the only reason why his vacuous pronouncements and ill-informed articulations Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . In India. Rajiv Gandhi did his damnedest to sabotage an independent investigation into the scandal – and fell back on the usual coterie of Congress “power brokers” to shield him. But within four years. Well. and invoked the promise of “change”. we don’t respect knowledge. but who have no understanding of the issues at hand. say. he gave rise to much merriment with his “Nani yaad dila denge” threats. much of which was the product of nearly four decades of (virtually uninterrupted) Congress rule at the Centre. only position. But in the main. some of the things that Rahul Gandhi said showed him up as perhaps lacking in a sense of irony. too share a part of the blame. Never very comfortable in Hindi. it may have come as a revelation to Rahul Gandhi. and there was an earnestness about Rajiv Gandhi as he set about trying to cleanse the corrupt and rotten system. economic and political decay rests at its door. If anything. Any honest critique of India’s systemic flaws must begin with the corrupting influence of his nani and his father (of whom he spoke endearingly) and. many of whom are in other parties. As it turned out. he is a direct beneficiary of the flaws in the system that he riles against. But unlike with Rajiv Gandhi. as I noted here. other leaders. had effectively disenfranchised most of the people and rendered them voiceless. and much of the blame for India’s social. For sure. he said.” It was pretty strong stuff (you can read the entire speech here). the hope that Rajiv Gandhi inspired was dashed by the harsh reality of Congress organisational politics and Rajiv Gandhi’s own fall from grace. Media anchors given to gushing have called this Rahul Gandhi’s (and the UPA’s) “Obama moment” – whatever that means. Arvind Kejriwal in seeking “systemic change”. And there was nothing in Rahul Gandhi’s speech to signal that he would bring about system change at the core of the Congress’ being. Rahul Gandhi appears to have found a halfways-decent speechwriter. all these years later. Rahul Gandhi spoke movingly about his grandmother Indira Gandhi’s assassination (and how it left his father Rajiv Gandhi broken). he was railing against the “system” – that. in which Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchchi was implicated. By 1989. thus far have gained amplitude is because he is who he is: a privileged member of India’s foremost political dynasty. but dishonest. The central theme of Rahul Gandhi’s speech was about giving voice to the voiceless. promises of “change”. It will take much more to reinforce faith in well-meant. and there were some signs to suggest that he was ready to give up his now-you-see-him-now-you-don’t dilettantism and submit himself to the harsh grind of a political life in greater measure. In channelling that sentiment. Yet. even if it was borrowed from the street protestors in recent years. but whether he delivers on those promises. but failed. Rahul Gandhi appeared to have found his own voice. We’ve been fooled by those facial dimples before. This was in many ways his most disciplined public speech in recent years. His father tried rather more earnestly. Rahul Gandhi will be eventually judged not by what he says in prepared speeches. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . “The Home Minister should better know that he cannot escape from the responsibility of bringing answers to the table rather colour of terror. “I am able to recall when Rajiv Gandhi had taken over his role. get out of the hold of power brokers. Jan 21. very inspiring speech.” while dismissing Rahul Gandhi’s Jaipur speech as that of an “opposition leader”.” she said. no doubt. they engage with terrorists and later on they say Hindu terror. nationalistic organisation such as the RSS as a terror outfit. so good luck. “They first start saying saffron terror. It was a very. “Today Rahul Gandhi has spoken with a great lot of idealism.” Condemning this “periodic misleading of the people in the name of terror politics”.” while dismissing Rahul Gandhi‘s Jaipur speech as that of an “opposition leader”.” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said here.” On Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s Hindu terror statement. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . Rahul spoke like an Oppn leader: BJP Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi received praise from the BJP with the party describing his speech in the 80s as “passionate” and “inspiring.” Referring to Rahul’s address at the Congress Chintan Shivir. the BJP leader said. a greater role in his party. he had spoken very passionately about how the party should Taking on Shinde. “We demand that the Home Minister retracts and also apologise for the statement. 2013 N ew Delhi: Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi received praise from the BJP with the party describing his speech in the 80s as “passionate” and “inspiring. PTI. They also would like to call BJP and related organisations and sometimes name a patriotic. she said. Recalling Rajiv’s speech. I hope he is able to implement most of the things that he said within his own party first and prove it to the country that he is able to achieve it within his own party before he probably would ever become the PM. if at all. she said. she demanded apology from the Minister. she said.Rajiv’s speeches were inspiring.” “He (Rahul) certainly spoke like a leader of the Opposition rather than a person belonging to the ruling party. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost . he said “absolutely not.” Hussain claimed. Congress has no future. He maintained people will look at Rahul Gandhi’s track record as an MP and a campaigner of Congress before taking any decision.”This development may excite Congress but does not excite the people of this country.” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told PTI. ew Delhi: BJP today said the elevation of Rahul Gandhi to the number two position in Congress poses no challenges gress.comes as no surprise: BJP BJP today said the elevation of Rahul Gandhi to the number two position in Congress poses no challenges to it.” Prasad said. then it is highly mistaken. He was not number three who has been elevated to number two. Only a member of Nehru-Gandhi family can be number two. Changing a nomenclature does not change the situation on the ground. 2013 Rahul’s elevation in Cong N to it. People will judge Congress as well as Rahul Gandhi by their performance in the last nine years that the party has been in power. Congress announced today that the Congress Working Committee has unanimously supported a resolution moved by A K Antony to make Rahul Gandhi Vice President of the party. Asked if Gandhi’s elevation poses a challenge to BJP. it will not have much political impact. “This decision will not bring any gains to Con- Another BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the whole country knows Congress is a one-family party and has always had dynastic leadership since independence. “This announcement of Rahul Gandhi becoming number two of Congress has not come as a surprise. “If Congress thinks the elevation of Rahul Gandhi will give a boost to the party’s future prospects. PTI. He was already number two after Sonia Gandhi. Jan 19.” he said. Another party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said though this decision is entirely of Congress and is an internal matter of that party.” Another spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the people still do not know what Rahul Gandhi’s views are on the Delhi gangrape and other crucial issues. He does not pose a challenge to BJP even if he becomes President of Congress. iPad/ iPhone apps iPad Android iPhone Copyright © 2011-12 Firstpost — All rights reserved Copyright Network18. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2012 Firstpost .Scan or click to download our Android.