To effectively represent the Opposition in Parliament, the Gandhi scion will have to demonstrate strong leadership and a commitment to address the concerns of the people of India.
By K S Tomar
An amended version of Karl Marx's quote suggests that history repeats itself first as a tragedy and not necessarily as a farce, hence its recurrence has ended up in the form of enhanced prestige for Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition (LOP). The Congress MP's ascendancy is the by-product of untiring struggle and societal complexities. Political observers point out two stark similarities between the late Indira Gandhi’s comeback as Prime Minister in 1980 and her grandson's recent resurgence.
Rahul's decision to accept the Congress Working Committee’s (CWC) offer to become the new LOP may serve a dual purpose. Firstly, he will be armed with a statutory position under the law, positioning himself as a direct rival to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2029 elections, compelling Modi to take him seriously unlike in the past. Secondly, despite being the strongest critic of the Prime Minister - inside and outside Parliament - Rahul's voice has often been drowned out by the BJP's "shouting brigade" over the past decade. However, this scenario is poised to change as the BJP has entered the Lok Sabha with a reduced strength of 240 MPs, down from 303 in the previous Lok Sabha.
In contrast, the Congress has almost doubled its strength, increasing from 52 to 102 MPs, including three independents. This bolstered presence will enable the Congress to counter the BJP’s tactics more effectively. A tit-for-tat subtleties and intricacies have emerged in Parliament as the BJP’s "shouting brigade" attempt to silence Rahul was recently reciprocated by INDIA bloc MPs by disrupting the Prime Minister's speech.
The overall parliamentary balance of power has shifted as well. The combined strength of the NDA (BJP and its allies) has been reduced to 294, down from 336 in the previous regime. Meanwhile, the Congress-led UPA has increased its seats from 90 to 234, including several new additions, which is bound to pose a significant challenge for the ruling party.
Indira Gandhi earned the title 'Bechari' (poor thing) in the eyes of the people due to the excesses and humiliation inflicted on her by the Janata Party after losing power, a fallout of the Emergency's dark era. In the late 1960s, she was derisively called 'Goongi Gudiya' (dumb doll) by her detractors, which ultimately helped in her emergence as a stronger leader besides bouncing back to power in 1980. Similarly, Rahul Gandhi's rejuvenation as a credible LOP in 2024 comes after being dubbed 'Pappu' by the BJP.
Rahul seized a golden opportunity to shed this stigma during his 4,080-kilometer ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ from Kanyakumari to Jammu and Kashmir over 150 days. He focused on winning the hearts of the common people, alleging that BJP leaders spent hundreds of crores on a relentless campaign to denigrate him because they perceived him as a future challenger to Modi. He asserted that the majority of TV channels, newspapers, and social media platforms were part of this conspiracy.
Highlighting his struggles in the journey, Rahul claimed that investigative agencies, at the behest of the Prime Minister, harassed him, going so far as to grill him continuously for 50 hours without finding anything. He lambasted the Modi government for ignoring the woes of common people, village distress, rising inequalities, farmers’ rights to a Minimum Support Price for their produce, youth unemployment, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, and the undermining of constitutional bodies. He accused the Modi government of being indifferent to these issues while top NDA leaders sat in air-conditioned rooms in Delhi.
At this juncture, experts suggest that the common people witnessed a privileged member of the Gandhi family walking in scorching heat and biting cold, highlighting their problems. This might have changed their opinion about him, leading them to perceive him as a 'Bechara Shehzada' (poor prince), earning their sympathy and contributing to the BJP's undoing in the 2024 polls. The NDA government’s focus on Hindutva, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and tall promises failed to address people's real issues. Prime Minister Modi can be credited for popularizing the term 'Shehzada' (prince) for Rahul Gandhi, but this campaign ultimately transformed his image from 'Pappu' to a credible national leader.
Overcoming the derision of 'Pappu' and its genesis
Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s concerted efforts to undermine his reputation by dubbing him with the derogatory nickname 'Pappu', Rahul has demonstrated resilience and growth as a political leader. 'Pappu', used pejoratively to suggest incompetence, has been a persistent tool in the BJP's campaign to discredit the Congress leader. This nickname, amplified by media and social platforms, sought to paint him as a dilettante lacking the gravitas to lead. However, Gandhi's response to this smear campaign has been multifaceted and strategic.
Upcoming challenges for Rahul
As the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament, he will face numerous challenges that will require him to be a dedicated and 24x7 leader to face PM Modi who has all the established credentials and ingredients of hard-working and committed leadership. The role cannot be discharged on an ad-hoc basis as it will demand continuous effort and strategic planning. His key responsibilities and strategies will include regular Interaction with the allies and engaging regularly with leaders of allied parties to formulate strategies aimed at cornering the BJP-led alliance in Parliament.
An LOP holds the government accountable with logic and facts that primarily involve articulating the opposition’s stance on various issues. Rahul will need to rally opposition parties, build consensus, and coordinate their efforts. This can be challenging given the diverse ideologies and interests of different parties. Effective communication is of paramount relevance as Rahul must develop a penetrating and mature skill to communicate effectively within and outside Parliament. His speeches, statements, and interactions with the media will shape public perception and influence political discourse.
Overall, Rahul’s leadership as the LoP will significantly impact India’s political landscape. To effectively represent the Opposition in Parliament, he will have to rise to these challenges, demonstrating strong leadership and a commitment to address the concerns of the people of India.
(The writer is a political analyst and senior journalist based in Shimla)
