Often, one wonders if Rahul Gandhi is anything like what he is made out to be. He is the heir to one of the most influential families on earth. With a ringside view of how the world functions, and the best of every resource eternally at his disposal, one wonders how he digs his political grave deeper and deeper every day. Perhaps, just perhaps, we are all being duped- the people, the media, the large ecosystem built around him and his family that is clinging on to dear life- are all being duped. Perhaps Rahul Gandhi is a clever idealist, unhappy with his family and its ecosystem’s illustrious legacy. Knowing better than to attack directly, perhaps he is dismantling everything at the core and destroying everything forever. Perhaps.
What better theory than this to explain how terrible a politician he is? Last week, the Gandhi scion accused the prime minister of personal corruption. After alleging that he was not allowed to speak in parliament because his speech would cause an earthquake, he led a delegation of his MPs to meet the prime minister. They spoke to the prime minister about farmer distress for around half an hour, and received a patient hearing. When they finished speaking, the prime minister admitted the situation was grim. He expressed his gratitude for the meeting, and told them that they should do this more often. The prime minister, being among the shrewdest politicians ever, might not have believed his luck.
Later that day, a united opposition was to march to the president’s house in protest. After scrambling over to champion the demonetization issue, it had taken them almost a month and a half to consolidate forces and stand against this decision together. As the news about Rahul’s meeting with the prime minister trickled out, opposition parties began pulling out of the march one after the other. BSP, SP, DMK, NCP, the left parties- each one backtracked. After taking such a strong stance against the prime minister, they couldn’t be seen with those who met him and had a constructive discussion with him on a pertinent issue!
People began questioning Rahul Gandhi’s credibility yet again- would he cordially meet somebody hours after accusing them of personal corruption and parliamentary gagging? Or were his claims fully hollow?
No seasoned politician, or anyone with an iota of political acumen for that matter, would have struck such a self-goal. That a bunch of seasoned politicians followed their leader into what they knew very well to be a political trap, is testament to the slave culture prevalent in certain quarters of Indian politics. Some call it the high command culture out of politeness. Be that as it may, it is quite surprising how little this move, among the most politically suicidal we have seen, is being dissected. Not only did it weaken and isolate the Congress Party, it disrupted much-needed opposition unity at a crucial juncture.
What could have prompted the Congress vice-president from making serious allegations against the prime minister and promising an earthquake, to meeting the prime minister and discussing farmer distress on the same day? Did he go overboard with the allegations and upon realising that he couldn’t deliver, make an unsuccessful attempt to divert attention? Did the prime minister successfully woo him and engineer another political masterstroke? Did the other opposition parties backstab the Congress to embarrass it in public? These are some of the possible reasons the meeting took place. It surely wasn’t a miscalculation. Even Rahul Gandhi some say, isn’t such an amateur. Unless of course, Rahul is a clever idealist whose covert surgical strikes are gradually destroying the party.
Prone to gaffes, politically suicidal moves and long holidays abroad, Rahul has never displayed any signs of being cut out for politics. The butt of several jokes and the subject of sleazy rumours, there is no denying that he is BJP’s biggest asset. The only thing we are yet to determine, and only because he never ceases to shock us, is if he is out there fighting others or his own party.
