Hindustan Times
‘Baba’ Rahul to finally deliver
It’s getting clearer by the day. The Congress is making a comeback in Uttar Pradesh after 22 years. And those who detest dynasty rule have no option but to digest this fact. Many are misreading his combative mood as ‘arrogance’, his statement on ’sitting in opposition in case of a fractured verdict’ as his frustration. Instead, he is demanding people to give him a clear verdict. He is also sending a clear message that he is not power hungry.
In fact his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra gave a similar message in Rae Bareli and Amethi when she said, “She wants him to settle down in life.” Many in anti-Rahul brigade will react strongly to their assertions, but can they deny the fact that he would have been country’s prime minister had he so desired — people can only stall his ascent in 2014, but not today when the UPA government has the numerical strength in the Lok Sabha (till TMC and DMK remains with them).
Till the other day, several veterans in the state used to ridicule his ’style of politics’, dubbing him as ‘ bachcha’, ‘ yuvraj’ and ‘Rahul baba’. Today they must be spending sleepless nights as the state gears up for ‘Change’. It’s another matter that even this verdict for
‘Change’ would be fractured with another youth icon Akhilesh Yadav there in the reckoning along with Rahul. The younger Yadav is also attracting the younger lot. Thus Rahul has to share political space and pace with Akhilesh in the East and Central UP. Then, he has poll partner Jayant Choudhary in the West.
Many are going to ask me, ‘Where is Rahul’s strength coming from?’ Here is the answer straight from the field.
1. The youth, especially the first time voters that account for 1.48 crore in the state, are his vote bank today.
2. The collapse of social engineering that Mayawati had built. Brahmins are returning to their traditional home after experimenting with both the BSP and the BJP.
3. Muslims aversion to Congress has sharply declined since the demolition of temple/mosque issue. For the first time voters, it is history. The issue doesn’t move them as they were not witness to it.
4. BJP’s gamble with Kushwaha and Uma Bharti.
The fact is there is an undercurrent in favour of the Congress for the first time since 1989. But it’s hard to read its quantum-how much would it convert into votes and then seats. But yes the party is back in the race.
(66 votes, average: 2.39 out of 5)
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