The reluctance or inability of the younger man to deploy his charisma — by making heroic or lyrical speeches — also hurts his party.
Political dynasties survive on the back of such loudness of character and self-referencing, and every South Asian family politician knows this. Though he is self-made, Modi has the confidence and quality to produce this charisma and he is a ‘known’ commodity for his potential voters, even though he has no dynastic past.
The strongman from Gujarat also has the advantage of a record in governance and growth that Rahul Gandhi personally lacks. The Congress heir does not own the successes and failures of the Union government, and it is his mother and Manmohan Singh who are seen as its masters.
Even so far as the party goes, there is a division of power between mother and son. The extent to which Rahul has independence in directing Congress strategy is unclear. Though his interventions have sometimes resulted in the party changing direction, he is still the deputy leader of the Congress and subordinate to his mother.
This is quite different from Modi, who is undisputed leader of his party, and in total control of his campaign.
In the Congress, there is a large section, particularly in the lower ranks, that would like Priyanka Vadra to bring the spark that Rahul is unable to kindle. Election campaigns need personality and colour, and this is absent in the Congress, and acknowledged by many within it. Where will it come from?
Priyanka, on the limited evidence of her public outings and media interactions, is more magnetic a figure than her brother. The mischief of her husband, and the awful public image he has built, has also not rubbed off on her, and this has in part to do with her independent personality. She is likeable and attractive.
This is why many in the Congress believe the entry of Priyanka would help the party fight back against Modi, its toughest opponent in decades.
The other way of looking at it is to say that Rahul ought to be given a chance to fail first before being sidelined in favour of his sister. A move to bring in Priyanka at this stage would mean an acknowledgment of Rahul’s failure and defeat in 2014. But that defeat hasn’t yet come.
It well might, and there may be a need to rethink the idea of Rahul as the party’s future, but it cannot be done on the basis of an imagined result.
Since taking over as Congress president, Sonia improved on the party’s electoral performance (in terms of the number of seats) in three consecutive general elections. The Congress has gone from having 114 seats in 1998 to over 200 in 2009. She has unquestionably revived the party. Rahul’s job was to rejuvenate it and he hasn’t done that.
It is probable that this year, the sequence will end and the party tally will drop. If this happens, it will be seen as Rahul’s failure, given the focus on him.
Sonia enjoys a much better reputation as a leader than her son, at least with the media. It is quite remarkable that she personally has not come under the sort of attack that Rahul has, though she is the individual in charge of the party.
But she has been reluctant to be the face of the government, and now even of the party. And so, her son must show that he is capable of taking forward the most valuable political inheritance in the world.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (18)
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@Dipak: Per capita power in state of Gujarat is lower than many states of India. Also, it's common in many big cities, towns in Gujarat to face planned load shedding. Cities like Navsari in South Gujarat have shut down every Monday. Performance of Solar projects which were announced by Modi big fun fare are in complete doldrums. Modi as usual sold dreams to these gullible investors, later withdrawn subsidies, which made project unviable. Gujarat surely is not only state shinning in India.
Dipak@Secular Hindu: Just one of the many many developments of Modi is in Power Generation. For 60 millions People, Gujarat produces 25000 MW of electricity, while Pakistan only produces 15,000 MW for 180 million people. They have loadshedding every day. Nobody in India can even come close to Modi in development.
@bharatiya: The so-called economic development of Gujarat under Modi is nothing but pack of lies. There are many more states in India which developed at higher rate than Gujarat. The economic parameter for any state is debt to GSDP , which is one of highest for Gujarat. This means, either debt taken by Modi govt has increased a lot , but there is no commensurate GDP growth. Even states like Bihar, Orissa have performed than Gujarat during last 10 years . So called vision of Modi as CM of Gujarat was to play politics in stopping crucial economic liberalisation, which could have propelled India ahead. He blindly opposed implementation of GST , FDI in Retail. such blindfolded leader of BJP will create havoc with economic , foreign policies of India. Also, being dictatorial in nature, whereby he refused to share more than 30 ministries with his cabinet members. Only sundry ministries were given to his other cabinet ministers. His autocratic style of functioning goes against secular, plural democratic values of India.
Rahul Gandhi has DNA from a family and Political thought process which strongly believes in strong, united, plural, just , developed India. Congress has always been party with all these credentials , with varying economic policies. Rahul Gandhi can work a team and take diverse groups with him. Indian electorate is fragmented due rise of regional parties, hence leader which is democratic, believer in diverse views..can lead India. Also, age is on his side. Just opposite is true of Modi, the leader picked by RSS as PM candidate for BJP lead alliance. Presently this alliance has only 3 parties, all of which are right wing religious parties, including BJP. BJP will have to muster , cobble up some sort of khichdi coalition of parties who lust for power . Modi is already 65 years old man..he will be unfit for next general elections, if Modi fails to head treasury chair in Loksabha. This is do or die for controversial leader of BJP/ RSS - Modi. Congress with its inclusive and visionary policies, will tak India forward.
political inheritance? Amd what makes Rahul enitled to inherit this, India is not a monarchy. Abhor dynastic politics and Bilawal 's similar sense of self entitlement is sickening. I am a Pakistani but think modi would be better for India. Not sure about how he would be with Pakistan.
Dipak@Guru: Priyanka can only hurt Rahul. Her husband is involved in major land mafia schemes in many states. Aam Adami candidates will destroy Rahul in the election because of her husband. She will destroy her brother politically forever.
the difference between rahul Gandhi and modi is that the latter has a vision for India. moreover he has a track record of 10 percent plus growth record in Gujarat to boast about. modi and kejriwal are much more popular among the educated people than rahul Gandhi. the middle class voters who deserted BJP in 2009 are now overwhelmingly with Modi.
Modi will be good for Pakistan, bad for India. Had he had not been responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocents, I myself have supported him.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra doesn't have her husbands sins rub off on her??
What have you been smoking? Whole world knows Vadra is nothing without Gandhi surname and even Rahul & Priyanka would be nothing without family legacy.
The disenchantment India feels by and large is with the feudal attitude of Gandhi family. Even in the recent Congress session, Rahul demanded "we want more gas cylinder" as if he is part of poor/middle class who struggle to make ends meet!
Even the poor have seen thru the game of this corrupt, feudal and highly dynastic family. They will throw some crumbs at the people and the people are meant to be grateful?
Priyanka's husband called India a Banana Republic, and Indians as "mango people". He was protected by saying he is a private individual. Should Priyanka enter the political frey, he'd be as public a persona as any, and all his sins will be the talking point all over again.
India is done with the Gandhis. Mr. Patel may not have reconciled to that fact - but we are done. Congress needs to find another backbone than G Family.
I don't think Priyanka will expose herself to an onslaught by opposition,considering the alleged achievements of Mr Robert Vadra, who happens to be her husband.she will only be providing opportunities to BJP and AAP to go all Guns blazing on Gandhi clan as a den of corrupt and scamsters,although she might campaign on a local level in Amethi and Raibareilly to salvage her familial honor. as far as Rahul Gandhi is concerned certain surveys are showing him lagging in Prime ministerial race even behind rookie Kejariwal whose Party has still not become a National Party.he is like a student in a class who studies hard but runs away at the time of exams.he has always shunned the prickly matters,leaving them on MMS who himself has been more than reluctant to face the challenges.in this circus of accountability or lack of that,no one seems to be shouldering the malpractices which are shamelessly going on for last 10 years.time has come to pay the price..
Are we still counting on Rahul to lead this nation when he has shown no capability let alone inclination to any extent thus far ? It is high time we move away from our obsession with the Gandhi dynasty and start looking at other alternatives. We need an efficient administrator, not someone who has been raised in the comfortable bubbles of Delhi and who happens to be completely oblivious to the happenings in the rest of the country bar Amethi.
We must not begrudge the author his hope. Something may still happen and the Congress may still win. The Congress itself does not have that hope so it is better that at least one person does.
The Grand Son of Indira Gandhi would be a Neo-Con in India.In fact, Rahul's mom will work behind the brain of her Son.Ironically, the world's lergest democracy is practicing dynastic politics and no hue & cry even with in India.
Here is one thing that India has in common with Pakistan.
Bilawal is mocked as Baby Bhutto in Pakistan and Rahul is mocked as Amul Baby in India. Both have good intentions for their respective country but are not ready yet to become Prime Ministers.
AAP and Congress will make govt in centre. . BJP will lose and that will be downfall of Narendra Modi. All of this has been decided by some big powers.
Indians are fed up with Congress culture of nepotism and corruption. The results of recent elections are the proof. Indians want change. Modi is the only alternative at this time. In the long run AAP may prove its worth and become a National Party. In 2014 electorates want to defeat Congress. AAP cannot come to power at centre in 2014, because it is itself running on the support of Congress. Mr Modi will be a good Prime Minister, better than Dr Manmohan Singh.
Not even a mahatma gandhi can help congress for an upcoming election.If the editor wants to live in a fantasy world, then we don't mind.Priyanka husband also involved in a major scandal.
You seem quite the optimist, talking of Rahula and him being subjected to a test........Sir, I think that boat has sailed.