From inept pappu to khatakhat neta, Rahul’s making a comeback

July 28, 2024 ()


Back in May-2011, in the same publication, I had done a column on the potential rise of Narendra Modi at the national level. The column was widely mocked. And yet, Narendra Modi rose to power at the center and is now in his third term.  

Perhaps this column might also be mocked, as it talks about the potential rise of Rahul Gandhi at the national level. In 2024, this might seem premature, with the Congress only at 99 seats. However, the signs are all there. If Rahul plays his cards right, he could be the next PM of India, something unthinkable even a few months ago.

This is due to three main factors. One, his personalitytransformation. Two, voters today are more receptive. Three, BJP’s active assistance in making Rahul’s brand stronger. Let’s look at each factor further:

1) Rahul’s New Persona – Is it a new fitness regimen? Supplements, meditation practice or coaching? Or a result of the Bharat Jodo Yatra? Forthere’s a distinct personality difference in the Rahul of 2024 than the Rahul of 2014 or 2019. The biggest change – Rahul is coherent. A few years back, Rahul would start talking about a high-levelconcept, fumble in explaining it and get muddled up. Now, the pitch, delivery and even the content of his speeches is on point. He may not always beright, but he is at least able to clearly express what he wants to say. Two, he now makes eye contact. Rahul of earlier years did not make eye contact. It conveyed a lack of confidence and made it difficult to connect with him. Now, he looks straight into the listener’s eyes or the camera. Three, Rahul is fearless. He is even willing to take on hard topics. Such as the recent tirade in parliament on Hinduismand the BJP. To take on the BJP in the territory of religion requires a whole different level of oratory skills (as opposed to attacking a policy) and Rahul could do it. His social media game is on point too. His being younger and fit helps connect with younger, newer voters. Whoever and whatever has helped Rahul achieve this metamorphosis – good job.
2) Receptive audience – All the above improvements in Rahul would have fallen to deaf ears, if the country was still in awe and full of hope from the BJP. Voters brought in the BJP in 2014, with nearunrealistic expectations on what will happen. People believed this new government would bring in prosperity, massive economic growth, eliminate corruption, build roads, improve education, create employment, correct all historical Hindu wrongs, and bring India and Hindus back to the glory days of a few thousand years ago, when everything was apparently perfect. Phew! Long list, isn’t it? It all seems a bit too much now, but at that time – India was in a thrall! Our time had come! There will be a great civilizational rebirth! Just let this government do its job. Let it do whatever it wants! Because glory is round the corner! When voters think like this, even the most amazing Rahul would not work. Today of course, the reality is different. Ten years since 2014, we all know how much of these expectations have come true. There have some improvements of course. However, are they necessarily far more than say the 2004-2014 period? Go to an Indian train station at night. See the number of people who still sleep on the floor, waiting for their crowded train to arrive. it will tell you how India is even today. No, we aren’t going to rule the world anytime soon. Meanwhile, we also have social issues like divisiveness in society. Nosurprise that at least a few voters are disillusioned. They are more amenable, finally, to listen to the alternative. An improved Rahul comes at a time when there is a waiting audience for it.
3) BJP’s assistance in building Rahul –Every hero needs a story arc to become a hero. The arc usually involves the hero facing unfairness, massive difficulties and threats, and overcoming it all and live to survive. Rahul’s rise to hero should also be credited to the BJP, which through their self-goals have provided Rahul with his hero’s arc. Quite unfairly, but quite effectively (for a while), BJP managed to sell a ‘pappu’ or an inept, incompetent image of Rahul. Rahul’s earlier lack of coherence and no eye-contact helped cement this image. It could have been left at that. However, the BJP decided to give Rahul an active boost. Hence, it went after Rahul, trying their best to disqualify him as MP, make him leave his MP bungalow and all kinds of aggressive actions. If he was a pappu, why go after him so aggressively? Freezing of Congress accounts and media blackouts didn’t help either. High-handedness towards a political opponentoften backfires, and the same happened here.

Rahul’s rise, however, doesn’t mean his place at the top is imminent or without challenges. Rahul’s biggest weakness is the baggage he carries – the dynasty tag, and all the past Congress sins. To get over the dynasty tag there is only one solution – sheer competence and dedication to the job. To show that despite a lucky break, you work to show you earned your place. For Congress’ past sins, the best strategy might well be to accept them, and use them as lessons for the future.

The 2024 elections have finally created an even–sided political match in India. The BJP is a strong fighter They will battle hard to win back lost territory. At the same time, Rahul’s time is coming too, and if he plays it right it may well be his turn at the top in the future.


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