Leader by default or rather by fault , Rahul Gandhi : Congress’ HOPE FOR 2014 OR B.J.P’S BEST BET?

MAY 3 , 2009: “ We won’t trade N-deal for Left’s support.”

MAY 5 , 2009: “ I think the Left will support a Manmohan Singh government.”

Its as if Rahul Gandhi wakes up every morning with almost no recollection of what he spoke the last day ( I call it the GHAJINI syndrome). Rahul Gandhi according to me is the fifth most boring speaker in the present Indian political scene ( his mother tops the list with Mayawati finishing a close second). But even I had some respect for his political acumen. Well Mr. Rahul Gandhi , you have dashed them all with your recent statements.

The fact is Congress realizes that it will not be able to gather the numbers for Manmohan Singh to be the next prime minister( or pseudo P.M). So Rahul Gandhi made a candid statement to reach out to some prospective allies. Infact he said that the Congress may look to join hands with Nitish Kumar’s J.D.U , Jaya Lalita’s A.I.A.D.M.K. and Chandra babu Naidu’s T.D.P. Let me Pranay Tiwari , a political novice explain to Mr. Rahul Gandhi why he has got it all wrong.

1) Dear Rahul, Nitish Kumar ( albeit his differences with Mr. Modi) will never support U.P.A. because it needs B.J.P support in Bihar without which it will cease to have a majority . Sadly the Congress with its dwindling base in Bihar cannot offer that kind of insurance. Moreover Nitish’s support will guarantee a divorce with Laloo Prasad Yadav.

2) Mr. Rahul, tying up with Jaya Lalitha’s A.I.A.D.M.K would mean distancing yourself from Karunanidhi’s D.M.K . I do not think that can be easily done.

3) Third if you somehow manage to get Left’s support ( using the often abused secular pretext) you lose a key partner in Bengal, Mamta Banerjee.

Moreover it would mean cheating the people of Kerela where Congress and the Left are in direct confrontation.

4) And finally Mr. Rahul, you praise Chandra Babu Naidu’s work in Andhra Pradesh when your chief minister Y.S.Reddy is fighting a tough battle there. It does not work that way .

Those having a soft corner for Rahul Gandhi would say that it is precisely this innocence of his that is heart touching. I say that there are times when you need to differentiate the subtle line between innocence and naivety . Mr. Rahul Gandhi I am afraid, is hovering around the latter.

That’s the problem with dynastic politics. It gives you a politician but fails to ensure that he is a leader. I hope the day never comes when Rahul Gandhi becomes our P.M. Why? Even I am a better candidate than him. And why should I doubt my chances. After all politics is the art of the possible, ideology be damned.