Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi means business. Not only does he have to ensure that the improved performance of the Congress and INDIA bloc in Lok Sabha elections is replicated in upcoming Assembly elections, but he is also out to prove that the Congress is a credible contender against the BJP and that he himself is a direct challenger of PM Narendra Modi.
In the fortnight that he has been LoP (Leader of Opposition Party), Rahul Gandhi has wasted no time working towards this goal; his plans and schedule are proof. He is trying to reach issues and areas the government hasn’t reached yet.
For example, within a few days of the deaths of 121 people in the Hathras stampede, the Raebareli MP drove down first to Aligarh and then to Hathras to meet the families of victims. He followed it up with a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, demanding additional compensation for the victims’ families.
He said in the letter that the tragedy was a reflection of the mismanagement of the state administration. As LoP and an MP from UP, buoyed by the good performance of the INDIA bloc in the state, Rahul Gandhi seems to be trying to unsettle the BJP in its bastion.
Two other such visits by the Congress leader give a glimpse into his strategy – one to flood-ravaged Assam and another to the relief camps of violence-hit Manipur where he will hold a press conference. Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly tried to corner the central government on Manipur.
In his first visit to the state after becoming the LoP and accusing the BJP of not allowing the Congress’s Manipur MP to speak in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi plans to make the point – that he will go where the PM does not.
Rahul Gandhi has also challenged the PM that the BJP would be defeated in his home state Gujarat. He shows no signs of backing off now that he’s LoP and if that means forgoing vacations, so be it.
The Congress leader has in the past been criticised for being missing in action or taking long vacations when his party needed him the most or when there were pressing issues which his party could have capitalised on.
This time, too, there was speculation that he would be abroad post the Parliament session, but Rahul Gandhi has surprised everyone by deciding to chalk out a political itinerary instead. Having to be around are one of the many compulsions of an LoP.
There may be occasions when he makes a tactical mistake, but the fear of failure is not an option for Rahul Gandhi anymore.
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