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Rahul Vs. Modi: COMPARING CHALK TO CHEESE?, By Poonam I Kaushish, 6 April, 2013 Print E-mail

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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