End of ‘Rahul era’ even before it began?

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi addressed ten rallies in Maharashtra and Haryana. When seen in contrast with his own extensive campaigning during the Lok Sabha elections, the reality that mother Sonia Gandhi is not her usual self, and the carpet bombing of rallies by Narendra Modi, it appeared a tame effort betraying lack of optimism.

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But given the evidence of results, it may have been a calibrated exposure to insulate him from in-party critics likely to point out that he had failed the test of popular appeal once again.

It is a tough time for the Congress heir apparent already under attack for his leadership abilities. The question looming large is if there would be another burst of criticism from Congressmen. In such times, partymen have devised a new slogan to sweeten the bitter pill -Priyanka Vadra should take the plunge to help the brother. Not a very comforting thought for the young leader in crisis.

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Priyanka and Congress have time and again clarified there is no such plan. But the incessant demands from Congressmen may find another outlet in the twin assembly defeats. As the results poured out, a group of Congress workers assembled outside AICC headquarters, waving posters of "Priyanka Lao, Congress Bachao" (Bring Priyanka, Save Congress).

A direct outburst against the Gandhi scion seems unlikely, it having happened after the Lok Sabha polls. But partymen are keeping a watch on the criticism of party managers who are perceived to be close to him. That would be an indirect way of questioning Rahul.

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A weak Congress has witnessed unexpected challenges in the past. Even loyalists like Jitendra Prasad and Rajesh Pilot jumped up to oppose Sonia Gandhi's leadership when Congress under her failed to make a mark and showed signs of heading south in 1998.

There could be compromises in the offing. There are signs that Rahul himself is reconciled to trimmed ambitions amid the unhindered hostility from within. The party has gone to unusual lengths to convey that there would be no wholesale junking of the old guard in the organizational restructuring. This was the theme of endless chatter about the "Rahul era". The appetite for experiments like "democratization" (election of party office-bearers) or "primaries" (to select election candidates through voting by partymen) may have diminished too.

READ ALSO: Cong workers demand Priyanka join active politics

If the rollback of the Rahul model goes on, it would mark his reconciliation with the changed political realities. And that may leave little for Rahul critics to carp about.

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