THE GUJARAT GAFFE
How, when and what of Rahul Gandhi’s campaign
in the Gujarat Assembly Election said the lessons were yet to be learnt.
He began the Gujarat campaigning only on
the last day of campaigning for the first phase (December 13, 2012) of the crucial
assembly elections that was going to decide many important aspects of the next
national elections.
Rahul has much at stake in 2014 and the
outcome of the Gujarat election is going to tell us if Modi is going to be Rahul
and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s biggest challenger and
possibly the ‘nemesis’.
His delayed action in Gujarat only gives
space to the opinion that he is yet to regain the confidence that he lost after
the election drubbings in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. And to add to it, Rahul
began on the wrong note giving Modi chances to exploit his words like the
Gujarat’s chief minister had done with Sonia Gandhi by turning the tables.
Okay, Rahul did not go to the extent to
breach the strategy-line like Manmohan Singh did this time by raising the issue
of plight of Muslims in Gujarat giving Modi a chance to hit back blaming the PM
of fomenting divisive politics or like Sonia Gandhi’s ‘Maut Ka Suadagar’ (merchant
of death) remark against Modi in the last assembly election in 2007 that gave
the communicator in Modi enough ammunition to exploit emotions on divisive
lines and polarize votes during the high moments of the final phase of the
election process, still what Rahul began with was not in-sync again.
The hurt of 2007 still echoes is clear from
the Congress’ strategy of avoiding use of polarizing issues like Godhara, riots
or Muslims of Gujarat. But even then, what Rahul spoke of in Gujarat is not
expected from a leader who is being projected as the next prime minister of the
country. His team must look at these gaffes.
THE POTATO REFERENCE
The old one:
Rahul Gandhi comes out in strong support of
FDI in retail
TNN December 17, 2011
In a Farrukhabad
rally, the potato price quoted by Rahul came out to be Rs. 2 or less than Rs. 2
a Kg (The report says, “Surprising all, Rahul told election gatherings across
Farrukhabad and Kannauj that FDI would solve the puzzle of a kilogram of potato
fetching Rs 2 or less to the farmer and a packet of potato chips costing Rs 10.”)
A Business Standard report (January 27,
2012) puts it more clearly: “I was in UP
recently,” Gandhi told a gathering of around 5,000 at a public-rally in the
border town on Tarn Taran on Wednesday. “There (UP), a farmer asked me that
when he was getting Rs 2 for a kilo of potatoes, why a packet of chips was
being sold at Rs 10. Can anyone answer this question?” he asked the gathering. The
crowd seemed least interested, and when no replies came, Gandhi said, “The
answer is FDI in retail.” (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/locals-want-basic-facilities-retail-fdi-not-in-radar/462949/)
Now the recent one:
War of words heats up as Modi takes on
Rahul 'baba'
Rediff, December 11, 2012
Rahul
got confused while explaining FDI in retail at Amreli. He asked the audience
'What's the price of potatoes?' From the dias he could hear people say,
"Rs 3" To which, he said," Potato chips are sold at Rs 10 a
pack. So why oppose FDI in retail?"
The
fact is in Amreli, the minimum price for a kg of potatoes is Rs 10 at the
wholesale market, and much higher in the retail market.
Accepted Rahul Gandhi would not be going to
do shopping so might not be aware of the potato price. But what then his team
is for? From December 2011 to December 2012, for Rahul Gandhi, the potato price
has gone up by Re. 1 only, and that, too, from the paltry figure of Rs. 2 to
Rs. 3 a Kg. Now I need to say a big Bravo! for the team.
I do not do such shopping for my family yet
I am aware that it is not even the bulk price of the potato.
Then there were other avoidable things that
Rahul said giving more chances to Modi to hit back even more harshly.
To continue..