Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra Has Introduced A Extra Mature Persona Of Him As A Chief

By Kalyani Shankar

Congress wish to rebrand Rahul Gandhi as a younger, caring, and ideological chief earlier than the 2024 polls. Has Rahul proven a brand new picture after the Bharat Jodo yatra, accomplished over 100 days as meant? For the primary time after a few years, the grand previous get together is attempting to succeed in out to individuals in distant areas and villages.

True to the script, he has proven a unique persona throughout the Yatra. – a son was tying his mom’s shoelaces, hugging older girls, and enjoying with youngsters – as a form, warm-hearted particular person.

Rahul started his 3500 km journey from Kanyakumari, flagged by Tamil Nadu chief minister M.Ok. Stalin, on September 7. It has taken a recess for per week and resumes on January 3. It’s going to finish in Jammu and Kashmir by finish of January. It’s time to assess the influence thus far of the Yatra on the get together, the opposition, the ruling BJP and the general public.

Rahul maintains that the Yatra isn’t for political or private curiosity however towards the politics of hate, concern, and violence. He has impressed the general public along with his tireless strolling, sweating within the warmth and dirt, and soaking within the rain- all with one aim- to combat the RSS. One can not discover fault with Rahul’s efforts. He’s bodily fairly match.

Because the Yatra marches on, Rahul sticks to his narrative, “we’re right here to open the store of affection in your bazaar of hatred.”

Rahul Gandhi has lined components of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi.

In the course of the Yatra, Rahul will get first-hand data from the cadre. Congress staff who had come out of their properties, within the streets and on the street these previous few months accompanied him. The response within the south has cheered Congress and alerted the BJP.

Will the Yatra assist Congress to get higher electoral positive factors? And can it change perceptions about Rahul? He has modified his marketing campaign fashion to a nuanced one. Listening to senior leaders in his get together, Rahul has demonstrated restraint in personally attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi  throughout the Yatra.. His aggressive assault on Modi in 2019elections had not clicked.

Secondly, his criticism of the enterprise homes of Adani and Ambani, whom he alleged Modi had favoured, has turn into refined and nuanced. Rahul questions India’s wealth concentrated within the palms of some people with out taking their names.

Thirdly, Rahul talks of affection and hatred and the way the RSS model of politics has torn society with hate.

As for the influence on Congress, the Yatra’s response has boosted the employees’ morale. There are plans to ask the state leaders to cowl their respective states on foot following this Yatra within the months forward.

Rahul’s efforts have briefly united the factional Congress leaders in numerous states, together with Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the place Congress has a direct combat with BJP.

As for the ruling BJP, it’s clear that the Modi authorities first ridiculed however is now disturbed concerning the Yatra. Initially, the BJP wrote off the Yatra, claiming it will solely click on within the south, the place the BJP is weak. Crowds in Tamil Nadu had been credited to the ruling DMK, a Congress ally.

So, the federal government has cautioned Rahul and his get together concerning the rising covid circumstances to destabilize the Yatra.

Whereas Yatra’s success within the south has been good, it’s a query of whether or not the opposite regional satraps would be part of the Yatra. Some distinguished opposition leaders, significantly in UP, have given a lukewarm response to Rahul’s invitation to affix the Yatra. Protecting the 2024 elections and 9 Meeting polls this yr in thoughts, Rahul has signalled to the opposition leaders to unite in the event that they wish to halt the BJP juggernaut.

Over the previous 100-odd days, Congress chief ministers, some Bollywood actors, teachers, activists, and even some opposition leaders from different events have joined the march in a present of help. Former Reserve Financial institution Governor Raghuram Rajan’s presence added to the status of the march.

Congress hopes its three-pronged assault on the Modi authorities, India’s China’s coverage, inflation, and unemployment, would seize in style help. Nonetheless, Aside, the main target of assault on RSS and BJP on the difficulty of hatred has been welcomed by the liberal sections  of inhabitants  as additionally civil society activists.

Although Congress has begun effectively, it nonetheless wants a well-liked political narrative to lure swing voters, particularly the center courses. Can Congress rise to the problem of preserving the momentum up until the 2024 Lok Sabha polls? Will Congress work exhausting to enhance its electoral prospects, harvesting the goodwill from the Yatra? Nonetheless, Congress’s new-found agility is but to translate into electoral success.

The outcomes of the 9 Meeting elections this yr will give some clues. (IPA Service)

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