Rama Krishna Sangem
Rahul Gandhi is back as MP in Lok Sabha on August 7, Monday, following a Supreme Court’s stay on Friday, on a defamation conviction by a Surat court five months ago. His return has come as a shot in the arm for Congress party which is desperately trying to stage a come back as the principal opposition on the national stage. Wittingly or unwittingly, the ruling BJP has felicitated this opportunity to the Congress.
Congress which aspires to play lead role in INDIA opposition front is about to utilise Rahul’s return to Parliament at least from three stand points. First, Rahul will be a lead speaker in the three day debate on the opposition’s no-confidence motion against PM Narendra Modi’s council of ministers. Though the points maybe the same, the presence of Rahul in LS will make him a star speaker.
After all, he will be talking in LS after a gap of five months. Rahul will be projected as counterweight to PM Modi. Second, Congress is bound to emerge stronger within INDIA. Till now, doubts persisted on his contesting 2024 LS elections. Now the doubts have gone and he is going to contest – from one or two seats. So, naturally, the question of – PM Modi vs Who? is answered to an extent.
Bharat Jodo Yatra 2
Of course, Rahul’s PM candidacy will actually be decided by the actual number of LS seats Congress wins. At least for time being, the BJP will stop asking this question – Modi vs Who? Third, his re-entry into LS through an SC intervention will boost Rahul’s proposed Bharat Jodo Yatra – 2, that will take him from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh in September. This round will be more energetic than the first one – from Kanyakumari to Srinagar.
Besides, Rahul will actively campaign in the coming five state assembly elections, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram in December this year. He will be seen as more wronged than the wrong – a harsh punishment to a milder offence. And someone who emerged from the punishment with the help of Supreme Court. His followers say, it is Rahul Reloaded! Let’s see.
