- The Grand Old Party leadership would desperately wish to encash the unfolding event surrounding the Lok Sabha disqualification of Rahul Gandhi courtesy of the trial court ruling a suspended two-year jail term in more than one way. Congress can not be faulted for believing that Rahul’s automatic disqualification could be used to derive mileage by impressing the electorate. Mind you, crucial state assembly elections are lined up in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh this year. These elections will be followed by the mother of all elections, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Undoubtedly, every election from now on will be construed as a semi-final of sorts before the grand finale scheduled for the next year.
PC: Team PGurus
- The moot point to ponder over here is to what extent Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification would be aiding the Grand Old Party in reversing the trends of setbacks at the hustings. Let’s delve deep to understand how the issue might play out for the party. Projecting Rahul as a martyr whose fight against the establishment – read as Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA at the Centre – would be yielding little electoral dividends since the state assembly elections are fought on local issues. Yes, Rajul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra did derive attention, traction, and support from the people when it traversed along the length and breadth of the country. But there is no way Congress could be certain that voters will support the party en mass in the ensuing elections over this plank alone.
- Remember, local issues dominate in the assembly elections, and Rahul’s projected martyrdom would have very little effect in generating votes for the beleaguered party. Of course, Karnataka Congress leadership would not leave any stone unturned in projecting Rahul as a sacrificial lamb having taken on the establishment. The narration will not cut ice with the electorate. His unhindered diatribes against Narendra Modi, including personal comments, have been well documented over the last nine years. However, general public opinion has remained steadfast in favour of the PM whose popularity remains unparalleled despite efforts at besmirching him time and again. Moreover, none of the accusations leveled against Modi has stood the test of time.
PC: PTI
- In fact, Modi has succeeded in taking advantage of those accusations by smartly projecting himself as an unfair target by Congress scion. We all know how masterful marketing strategist our PM is when it comes to projecting himself as a tough but extremely sensitive and vulnerable man in furthering the cause of commoners. Thus, Congress’s hopes of milking Rahul’s disqualification to garner votes will not fructify for sure. Trust me, BJP’s relentless poll machinery will be working overtime to not only negate the Congress’s claims but also would have strategized moves to counter any reference to disqualification. Yes, Congress stands a pretty chance to assume power in Karnataka, but harping on Rahul more than required would not be such a smart political move.
