A week back on Feb 24, our media had headlines blaring the announcement made by the Congress Party that Rahul Gandhi would be out on a few weeks' leave to introspect upon the recent past and prepare himself for the future. While this news sparked support from many Congressmen, speculations by the media and ridicule from adversaries and public; I was left to wonder why Rahul Gandhi's leave was being made the subject of such colossal national attention. The media was rife with ridicules about Rahul Gandhi being in Bangkok/Uttarakhand, and speculations of a rift between him and Sonia that were subsequently followed by reports from 'sources' that Rahul might be gearing up for the top seat in the Congress Party. However in the last couple of decades or so, the Congress has largely been successful in aligning itself to the Nehru-Gandhi family, or atleast in keeping any family disharmony under the linen, just like any good united family should. Those who haven't complied, have slowly been faded away into oblivion, be it Narasimha Rao or Sitaram Kesri. (Interesting read on the same: http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-the-sitaram-kesri-case-how-dynasty-trumped-ethics-1564149) Infact, the Sonia Gandhi era has been quite smooth, with most political veterans such as Sibal, Khursheed, Digvijay Singh infallibly pledging their loyalty to the Prince. This has been quite a contrast to the BJP, wherein tumultous relations between the Advani and Modi clans were hardly a secret.
Given this background, I find it tough to believe that the seasoned Congress party might release a statement that may indicate towards speculations about disharmony in the leadership. Infact, I wonder if the world knew about Rahul's wherabouts in the weeks before the announcement day. The Congress Party has rather been known to keep Rahul's movements highly clandestine, something that has recently caused discomfort to the Congress workers. (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-election-results-rahul-gandhi-congress-aap/1/418219.html) What puzzles me, is that Rahul Gandhi could have very well been holidaying before the announcement, or could have holidayed easily without a public announcement. I wonder who the target audience for the announcement was and who would have missed him during this 'period of leave', his party workers or the people/his co-workers in his constituency Amethi. Probably the only place where his absence would have been questioned (for strictly political and not policy reasons) is the Parliament during the Budget session. If a political rift actually be the case that could make him miss him the Budget session, then the people of Amethi need to ensure that he's kept out of all Parliament sessions in the future.
In my humble opinion, this might be a last desperate attempt from the Congress leadership to resurrect Rahul Gandhi's image for projecting him as the new supremo. After the recent debacles, dissent amongst the workforce has been quite visible with shouts of "Priyanka lao, Congress bachao" being frequently heard. Getting Priyanka on board sounds promising on paper, given her charsimatic appeal and eloquent speeches, but it might not be the wisest move and the Congress Party would be well aware of that. Already being dubbed as dynastic, any move to bring another family member into the echelons of the hierarchy would invite hungry adversaries to attack them further. Also, some veterans might see this as their best opportunity to make a bid for the grand old partry's leadership.
Nevertheless, the party has invested in Rahul Gandhi for more than a decade, and it will not be easy for the decision makers to simply push him out of the picture, a classic case of sunk cost fallacy.
The society loves comebacks. Be it politics, sports or reel, comebacks are eagerly anticipated, and cheered with great furore, with rarely a thought on the ends that they might achieve. A brief hiatus projected to introspect, regroup and restrategise might just be the perfect platform to launch the Return of the Prodigal Son. If Congress actually had ideas similar to what I think they did, they have miserably failed. Rahul's "Out of office" announcement has gathered more ridicule, sarcasm and doubts over credibility rather than hopes and expectations. On a funny note, another "break announcement" that had media attention recently was Dhoni and the team's just before the World Cup. (http://sports.ndtv.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/news/236868-mahendra-singh-dhoni-co-get-luxury-break-before-world-cup-defence) I hope that the turnaround in the team's performance after the break did not inspire the Congress leadership to plan something similar for Rahul Gandhi.
Given this background, I find it tough to believe that the seasoned Congress party might release a statement that may indicate towards speculations about disharmony in the leadership. Infact, I wonder if the world knew about Rahul's wherabouts in the weeks before the announcement day. The Congress Party has rather been known to keep Rahul's movements highly clandestine, something that has recently caused discomfort to the Congress workers. (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-election-results-rahul-gandhi-congress-aap/1/418219.html) What puzzles me, is that Rahul Gandhi could have very well been holidaying before the announcement, or could have holidayed easily without a public announcement. I wonder who the target audience for the announcement was and who would have missed him during this 'period of leave', his party workers or the people/his co-workers in his constituency Amethi. Probably the only place where his absence would have been questioned (for strictly political and not policy reasons) is the Parliament during the Budget session. If a political rift actually be the case that could make him miss him the Budget session, then the people of Amethi need to ensure that he's kept out of all Parliament sessions in the future.
In my humble opinion, this might be a last desperate attempt from the Congress leadership to resurrect Rahul Gandhi's image for projecting him as the new supremo. After the recent debacles, dissent amongst the workforce has been quite visible with shouts of "Priyanka lao, Congress bachao" being frequently heard. Getting Priyanka on board sounds promising on paper, given her charsimatic appeal and eloquent speeches, but it might not be the wisest move and the Congress Party would be well aware of that. Already being dubbed as dynastic, any move to bring another family member into the echelons of the hierarchy would invite hungry adversaries to attack them further. Also, some veterans might see this as their best opportunity to make a bid for the grand old partry's leadership.
But he answered his father, "Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living and wealth, you killed the fattened calf for him."
— Luke 15:29-30, World English Bible
Nevertheless, the party has invested in Rahul Gandhi for more than a decade, and it will not be easy for the decision makers to simply push him out of the picture, a classic case of sunk cost fallacy.
The society loves comebacks. Be it politics, sports or reel, comebacks are eagerly anticipated, and cheered with great furore, with rarely a thought on the ends that they might achieve. A brief hiatus projected to introspect, regroup and restrategise might just be the perfect platform to launch the Return of the Prodigal Son. If Congress actually had ideas similar to what I think they did, they have miserably failed. Rahul's "Out of office" announcement has gathered more ridicule, sarcasm and doubts over credibility rather than hopes and expectations. On a funny note, another "break announcement" that had media attention recently was Dhoni and the team's just before the World Cup. (http://sports.ndtv.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/news/236868-mahendra-singh-dhoni-co-get-luxury-break-before-world-cup-defence) I hope that the turnaround in the team's performance after the break did not inspire the Congress leadership to plan something similar for Rahul Gandhi.
"But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found." — Luke 15:32, World English Bible
The Prodigal Son will surely return, but will the return be celebrated with whistles and bells, only time will tell.
The Prodigal Son will surely return, but will the return be celebrated with whistles and bells, only time will tell.
