Raga’s New Avatar Cheers Cong Ranks But would crowds turn into Votes?
Sunday, February 19, 2017
At
an election rally in Uttar Pradesh, when Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi
imitated the “mitron” idiom of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the audience burst
into laughter and cheered him for well over a minute.
The
Uttar Pradesh polls could be a defining moment for the Gandhi scion, who is
looking more confident, combative and expressive than ever. Sample
this: At his first joint presser with Akhilesh Yadav at a five star property in
Lucknow, when a reporter introduced himself as a representative of the No. 1
channel, Rahul jokingly took him on.
“Arre
aap to Modi ji ho gaye, aap hi number one, aap hi number two our aap hi number
three, aur koi nahin,” he said as the crowd of hacks burst into peals of
laughter. As the laughter continued, even Akhilesh joined in.
At
two rallies — Fatehpur and Rae Bareli on Friday — the Gandhi scion targeted
Modi with a Bollywood punch. “When Modi ji came two-and-a-half-years back he
was in the (Shahrukh starrer) ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ mode, but now he
has turned into a Gabbar (of Bollywood classic ‘Sholay’ fame).
With
party President Sonia Gandhi unwell and not showing up to campaign, the
stubble-sporting, jeans- and kurta-clad 46-year-old Rahul Gandhi seems to be on
a high. He and his sister Priyanka played a key role in stitching an electoral
alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party.
The
young Gandhi’s mannerisms, interactions and speech delivery have considerably
improved, say aides. Even cynical Congress supporters agree.
“I
am quite delighted at what I am seeing and hearing,” says Ali Hasan, an
old-time Congress supporter from Chowk. “It is certainly a more mature, humble
Rahul.”
An
office attendant at the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee office told IANS that
the changes in “Rahulji’s style” had triggered hope in the rank and file.
Till
now the Modi camp was not even noticing the Congress leader. Or so it claimed.
The
change in style comes as a soothing balm for the besieged Congress workers in
the state where staggered assembly elections began on February 11.
Will
the Gandhi aura turn into votes for the SP-Congress alliance and dent Modi’s
appeal? The answer will come on March 11 when the votes polled in Uttar Pradesh
and four other states get counted.
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