Political Diary
New Delhi, 6 April 2013
Rahul Vs. Modi
COMPARING CHALK TO
CHEESE?
By Poonam I Kaushish
It is the coming of age season in political Delhi. Which stood testimony to two debuts
last week: Congress scion Rahul Gandhi at the Confederation of Indian Industry
and Narender Modi at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce. A classic
clash of two titans far removed from each other as chalk and cheese!
Post his anointment as Vice President, the CII meet was
Rahul’s first public inter-face. The hesitation had made way to confidence,
clarity and rhythm of thought, touch of innocence along-with a conviction that
good intentions could clean up India’s
muddied systems and political cesspool. Wherein he had the courage to admit
that he is what he is because of his lineage and DNA.
But the moot point is in a Party which banks and draws
sustenance and energy from the Nehru-Gandhi brand, none are wiser about Rahul’s
vision, ideas and direction to provide a new disha and a fresh sandesh to
take India
forward. Does he have the guts and leadership to revamp a Party caught between
dual power centres, Sonia and Manmohan? Or will he remain our desi Hamlet?
Regardless of whether Rahul wants to lead the Congress or
not, and what his own personal ambivalence about power is, the Congress has put
itself where it cannot survive without him. Succinctly diagnosed by a senior
leader, “We don’t need more talk but want action.”
Notably, the 42-year old leader comes with his many positives
and negatives. He is a nice guy on whom Gen Next girls swoon for his dimpled
handsome looks, determined, focused on how he wants to run the Party. Though
not a great orator, he conveys sincerity and strongly believes in deliverance
and output.
For reasons
best known to him, Rahul chose the fag end of the UPA’s second term to come-out
and air his views. Alas, instead of
finding answers to the various ills that afflict the country and making
policies deliverable he merely analysed for the umpteenth time problems
resulting in more questions, especially on his leadership capability.
Yet as the Party's VP he will have to contend with several
challenges: reviving/strengthening the organisation, rebuilding alliances, finding
allies, connecting the Party and Government and restoring the Congress’s image
and credibility badly dented by scams and misgovernance.
His track record as a performer has left much to be desired.
He delivered during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls in UP, but failed when it came to
the Assembly elections in Bihar and UP and maintained a low profile during the Gujarat polls where Modi won a third term. He appears a
reluctant leader who has failed to keep up a sustained campaign post poll especially
in the Hindu heartland where the Congress is desperately looking for a revival.
In fact, the Party is today saddled with small time netas who at best can come up with
tokenism and “me-tooism”. Whereby,
the Party has become a prisoner of the highly personalized, even feudal,
functioning and outlook. Only those who serve loyalty flourish in the
“nomination culture”. Being political parasites, they cannot survive on their
own and are as loyal as Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. Thus, Rahul cannot replace
the darbari culture, which he seems
allergic to, without his own credentials coming under scrutiny.
Now Modi. True comparisons are odious, but inevitable in the
political arena. The vital difference between Rahul and Modi is akin to
comparing apples and oranges. While the former’s ascendency to the Congress
throne was a given, the Gujarat Chief Minister elevation is still a big
probable.
To his credit, Modi has won three terms as Gujarat’s
CEO. But it remains to be seen if he will be accepted as a national leader.
Questionably, will his past impact his future?
Will his “serve Mother India” slogan resonate in other parts of the
country? Remember, his foray during the
Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections came a cropper.
Undeniably, Modi remains BJP's most formidable, no-nonsense,
tough leader but he has many detractors within the Party as without. His
presence would help polarise the cadres and consolidate the Hindutva brigade. Even
as he is feted for his administrative skills and development record he is
scarcely seen as a leader who can prove a magnet for potential allies. Thanks
to the albatross of the 2002 riots, the polity is sharply divided along the
secular-communal line,
Already, principal ally JD(U) has made plain its angst
against the no-nonsense Chief Minister. His Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar and
potential king-maker has not only made his reservations public about Modi but
has dared the BJP to name its Prime Ministerial candidate even as his Party
spokesperson continues to take potshots at him.
The BJP's other partner Akali Dal might not be averse to
Modi. Notwithstanding, AIADMK Chief Jayalalithaa acknowledgment of Modi as a
friend who attended his swearing-in ceremony, the Party cannot count on her
support. The Shiv Sena has made plain its first choice is Lok Sabha Opposition
leader Sushma Swaraj. Pawar also shares a good chemistry with Modi but this
might not translate in to an electoral understanding. Needless to say it would
be a long haul for the BJP to scout for fresh allies
Pertinently, several Parties are experts at switching
between the NDA and the UPA, with bouts of equi-distance. Namely, Trinamool, DMK, AIDMK, NC,
LJP, JMM et al. It all depends on which Party, Congress and BJP can net 200
seats in the Lok Sabha poll and the alternative that emerges post polls. Hard
reality has a way of papering over any queasiness our netagan might have as they strive to safeguard their survival and
significance to share power.
In the ultimate testing times lie ahead for the Congress and
BJP. India's
burgeoning population cries for change that can fulfil the aam aadmi ambitions. A structural change and systemic political
reform where all men are truly equal having access to equal opportunities. Does
Rahul have the stomach for this?
Rahul might feel that power is poison and it has many
distortions but in a democracy an administration responsive to the needs of the
people has everything to do with power and who and how it is wielded. All it
takes is a self-regulating mechanism which is a proxy for the will of the
people and keeps netas on a leash.
True, Rahul is fighting against his legacy with earnestness
but his success will depend on how he acts on changing the moribund Party
replete with feudal mindset and move
beyond the politics of entitlement, in to a Gen Next organization to fulfil the
surging aspirations of the aam aadmi
rearing to go.
Having taken expectations sky high with his words, promises
and a pledge to put systems right both vis-à-vis governance and the Congress,
it remains to be seen how much he will be able to deliver and how it will
impact his future politics if he is unable to deliver what he has promised.
Will he be the Party’s Dhoni and lead it to victory or remain ‘work in
progress’? ---- INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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