WHY RAHUL LOST THE BATTLE?
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    • editricon WHY RAHUL LOST THE BATTLE?
    The much hyped,high voltage campaign by Rahul could not help revitalise the grand old party of India in the hindi heartland where the arch rival Samajwadi party rode back to power albeit with hardly a 3% vote share difference from the outgoing BSP . Many theories are floating around with the media coming up with I told you so variety of reasons. It is seen by the media as a falling glamor of Gandhi Icons even though the press felt that Priyanka was more glamorous of the siblings. Rahul toiled very  hard put all his energy in to revitalising the party and at one stage it seemed that his gamble could pay off atleast making the party a king maker if not the king and yet when the results were out Congress finished last behind another battle strife and bruised BJP. Why is this happening? Is it the end of the road for the party of the masses in the bygone era where icons like Nehru, Indira, Rajiv could enthrall masses and ensure landslide wins. Is it because the voter has matured enough to segregate the chaffe from the flour as some claim?

    The fact is that populism has paid off dividends and Muslims have once again deserted the party. Rahul during his campaign tore the manifesto of Samajwadi party which promised many freebies including 18% quota for muslims as if the party has 2/3 rd majority in the Loksabha to bring forward a constitutional amendment. One remembers the early 1967 when Congress faced a rout in Tamil Nadu with Annadurai's DMK swept to power. The Congress party was responsible for food shortage and the anti Hindi agitation also drove away young voters from the party to Anna. but the main reason for the landslide was the promise of Annadurai to ensure 3 measures of rice for a rupee. Kamraj called it a fraudulent claim to which Anna retorted that he is a qualified MA in economics while Kamraj had never been to school. Anna also thundered that if he does not fulfill his promise, any one could take him by the collar and do whiplashining in Public. Anna was never able to fulfill his promise and no one inTamil nadu ever did whiplashing.  Such kind of populist schems drive our voters mad and they end up in voting up for the party which makes tall claims.

    Rahul only highlighted the empty rhetoric that the manifesto was. But the UP voter thought otherwise.

    Manmohan Singh should be the happiest man at the moment. He can now be comfortable in his chair with no potential threat to his office whichgot in a lottery.  I suspect that it was a clever ploy to sideline Rahul that he was asked to carry on the burden of convassing for the party in UP Rahul the pan india brand was pitted against a local brand Akhilesh, the Darti putra who had an obvious edge. Imagine Hindustan Lever putting up its Surf brand and P& G its Ariel brand against Nirmas and Power soaps powerful regional brands. That could kill the pan india brands. This has happened to Rahul, the brand which now requires to be remodelled before 2014 if it could pay electoral dividends.

    Rahul worked like a man possessed, showed genuine concern in people's issues. Spoke from his heart and yet the voter chose to ignore him.

    Rahul may or may not become India's Prime Minister ever. but I am sure if he does not make it, he is not the loser.
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