Rahul sets trends in campaigning
His “innocent” face betrays the “fire within.” And when he starts addressing a gathering, the old as well as young are taken by surprise by the way he attacks his opponents and pleads the case of his party.
Much has changed during the past seven years, when Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi entered active politics and contested from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat in the 2004 general election. Rahul candidly admits it during his election meetings.
“I had not learnt in all my life what I have learnt in the past seven years,’’ he tells the electorate at his meetings.
Apart from the change in his style of campaigning, Rahul has delved deep inside to understand UP politics, where caste still plays a dominant role especially during the time of elections.
While targeting his rivals, one can see the aggression in him which has evolved over the years as a politician.
So when he repeatedly uses the term “bhaiya” (a desi term used to address people mainly in the rural areas) to stress a point, he’s only trying to connect with the general public.
He has also been raising the local issues at his rallies to drive home the message that the state governments over the past 22 years have done very little or nothing for the development of the state.
During an election rally at Awasanganj in the district, about 200 km from Lucknow on Monday, Rahul spoke about the pollution in the Bakulahin river and the havoc it wreaks on the people during the rainy season, besides promising to set up a sugar factory in the area, an age-old demand of the people.
A 78-year-old Ramdeen, a veteran Congress supporter, agrees that Rahul can bring development in the state.
But what about youngsters? Ramdeen points towards the large number of youths present at the meeting to convey a message that they, too, are with Rahul this time.
The Congress leader also freely mingles with the people. He speaks to the womenfolk and asks them about their problems.
“Do you have a BPL card?” he asked a woman who was standing in the crowd .
As a crowd-puller, Rahul has been drawing moderate to good crowd at his meetings. In comparison, BSP chief Mayawati has been drawing massive crowd as usual.
But there’s a big difference though. While Rahul can never bank upon the crowd at his meetings for votes, Mayawati can, opines political pundits in unison.
“Crowd at Mayawati’s meetings are her genuine voters,” analysts point out.
The Congress’ biggest handicap is that it does not have an organisation in the state.
Rahul has tried to infuse life in the near defunct Youth Congress and its workers are visible at places but that’s not enough to ensure a victory for the party.
“The Congress is fighting this time in true sense. It may not win but it will register its presence for the first time after 22 years,’’ says a local Congress leader here. And he appears to be closer to the truth though the senior leaders may not agree.
