As Congress launches its 2019 campaign, its new president seeks to balance the old and young generations within and convey that he’s a changed person.
New Delhi: If you needed to chart Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s growth as a leader, his rallies at the Ramlila Maidan in 2015 and this week would offer a fair idea.
Rahul took the stage Sunday for the party’s ‘Jan Aakrosh (public anger) rally’, launching its campaign for the 2019 general election.
It came exactly three years and 10 days after he addressed his ‘Kisan rally’ at the maidan to take on the Modi government over its controversial land acquisition ordinance.
At the time, he was just back from his 57-day sabbatical, which was much criticised for coming at a time when the party was still reeling under its 2014 defeat. On stage on 19 April 2015, Rahul faced a party waiting for him to take charge as their leader.
Fast forward to this Sunday, and the template of the attack on the BJP government remained the same, but articulating it was a much more confident leader who seemed to be growing into his role as the president of India’s oldest party.
Time for change
The theme of this week’s rally was ‘Waqt hai badlav ka (It’s time for change)’, introduced at the Congress plenary in March under its new president. Young leaders were given a chance to co-ordinate the programme, while elders sat on the stage.
But Rahul clarified Sunday, as he has before, that veterans of the party would not be sidelined under him. “The Congress is a party that will respect both the old and the young. A 90-year-old party worker will get the same respect as an 18-year-old one. Because everyone brings strength to the party,” he said.
He was careful in his speech. When he mentioned former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, he didn’t forget to mention state party chief Sachin Pilot. When he talked about Jyotiraditya Scindia, the campaign in-charge of the party in Madhya Pradesh, he also mentioned new state party chief Kamal Nath, making it clear that both were equally important in his scheme of things.
Rahul also scored a point by touching upon the recent controversy around a statement made by senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid at Aligarh Muslim University, where he said the party had “Muslim blood on its hands”.
“I will protect Khurshid because the Congress welcomes diversity of opinions,” Rahul said. “However, in fighting with the BJP and the RSS, everyone will have to unite,” he added, “Can you expect any BJP leader to accept such diversity on a stage like this?” Seated on the stage, Khurshid clapped.
A president for the workers
Rahul has drawn a lot of flak over the years for taking vacations at the wrong time. There was the 57-day sabbatical, and then the recent trip to Italy earlier this year just as the party was voted out of its bastion Meghalaya and failed to win any seat in Tripura.
But the Congress president sought to change the narrative. So, on Sunday, days after his air scare on-board a flight from Delhi to Hubballi, he sought party workers’ permission for a 10-day break to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after the 12 May Karnataka election.
“Two days ago, when I was going to Karnataka, the plane dived, and I thought everything is over. But then I thought I have to go to Kailash and now I seek permission from all of you… to do that after the polls in Karnataka,” he said.
Earlier, Rahul would just announce his vacations on Twitter or not at all. The message was clear. After his recent temple visits to reportedly peddle the Congress’ ‘soft Hindutva’ and erase its pro-minority image, the party chief was also seeking to change its image of being an “elitist” outfit out of touch with the grassroots.
It is with this in mind that the party has also started Project Shakti, where Rahul directly engages with Congress workers from different states to learn their views.
Bugle for 2019
The Congress sought to launch its 2019 campaign with cinematic flair. Party leaders and workers from across India were in attendance, and ‘Arambha hai prachand (the beginning is intense)’, a song from the movie Gulal, played as footage was played of Rahul meeting people, travelling the country and addressing crowds.
आरम्भ है प्रचंड
बोले मस्तको के झुण्ड
आज जंग की घडी की तुम गुहार दो…#JanAakroshRally pic.twitter.com/QdmABAp9YI
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 29, 2018
“Without water, no building can be built. The Congress is the water of this country. In 70 years, we have created this love among the people,” said Rahul, referring to the BJP’s claim that the Congress had done nothing since Independence.
“The BJP and the RSS have spread falsehood about the Congress across the nation. But the truth is now making its way out and people can see through their lies,” he added.
A day before, a six-minute film was posted on the Congress’ official Twitter account, purportedly showing people’s anger over different decisions taken by the Modi Government.
The Modi Govt's tenure has so far been a disturbing saga of violence, betrayal and failures on every front. Every section of the society is suffering and is angry. The nation stands united today to voice its anger against this insensitive regime. #JanAakroshRally pic.twitter.com/tyShxhSTW0
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 29, 2018
“We are trying to boost confidence among party workers and people that the Congress is the party that can take everyone along in the nation’s journey,” said a senior leader associated with the making of the video.
Rahul expressed confidence about the Congress’ prospects in the upcoming election season. “From now onwards, the Congress will win every election and also win 2019,” he said.