Rahul does the suit-boot routine again in Champaran but fails to impress

In Champaran, Rahul Gandhi thundered against Narendra Modi, ‘Feku tha, feku hai’. He then went on talking at length about suit boot (Modi and corporate) versus d_hoti,_ pajama-kurta, chappal, et al, and then at last making a resolve after remembering Mahatma Gandhi’s, ‘Hum suit utarna chahte hain aur dhoti apnana chahte hain’ (We want to take off the suit and wear dhoti).

Rahul also shared a ‘chutkula’ (joke) with the crowd of a “suited man” and a ‘mallah’ (boatman). He didn’t pause to assess response of the crowd lest to break his diatribe against Modi and how he entered in an alliance with RJD and JD(U) to protect weaker sections of society and to protect Bihar from the entry of corporate.

The Congress vice-president seemed unmindful of the fact that his ally, JD(U) leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had been vigorously demanding special status for the state because the consequent tax concessions would lure the corporate honchos to set up business and industry in the state. It’s a different matter though that Nitish’s belated regret for attending Rahul’s Champaran rally had embarrassed Congress many times. KC Tygai, party’s Rajya sabha MP was flown in from Delhi to make a token presence at the rally. Lalu had from the beginning made it clear that he wouldn’t attend this rally and would depute his son Tejaswi who is yet to make a political mark, to represent RJD.

Rahul’s first landing in Bihar in 2015 should have enthused and lifted morale of Congress men and women. But the ground situation seemed different.

A section of Congress leaders were at loss comprehending as to why their supreme leader and central party strategists attached so much of importance to symbolism when all Rahul had to do was to deliver an election campaign speech. A Bihar Congress unit office bearer had some questions for Rahul – why didn’t he consider making it a full-fledged election campaign rally and why spend so much of time, energy and money for an interaction with numerically miniscule Tharu Tribe and hold a public meeting as part of year-long celebration to mark 125th birth anniversary of dalit leader Bhim Rao Ambedkar?

Historically, Champaran is known for its association with Mahatma Gandhi than with Ambedkar. It was here that Gandhi had experimented with his first Satyagraha movement against the British regime in 1917 on his return from South Africa.

Champaran region will be going to the polls in the fourth phase on 1 November and Congress does not know how many seats are they contesting for from the region. There are reports suggesting that announcement of Mahagathbandhan’s candidates for the first and second phase has been withheld at Rahul’s behest till Monday because Congress leadership wanted to have a smooth run at his Champaran rally.

A senior Bihar Congress leader told Firstpost, “We had advised against Rahulji’s Champaran rally (Ambedkar birth anniversary celebration) but then it looked like that central leadership had already taken a decision and we were merely being informed. Only Rahulji and his team can explain the rationale behind this exercise where symbolism had disproportionate weightage.”

Congress cadre in Bihar, who have been serving the party for a long time now, were also unhappy because ‘a dalbadlu’ (turncoat), Puranmasi Ram, has been claiming all the credit for Champaran rally. However, it’s not just about the morale of local Congress men and women but what caused embarrassment for Congress’s top leadership was Nitish Kumar decision to stay away from Rahul’s rally.

For over a fortnight, the Congress has been claiming that Nitish would be present at the Champaran rally to share the dais with Rahul. JD(U) sources had confirmed Nitish’s attendance.

Nitish Kumar too begins his election campaign from Champran, a senior JD(U) leader had earlier told Firstpost. Lalu, it was then suggested, would “go if invited”. It was also told that Rahul didn’t want to be seen closely cozying up with ’the likes’ of Lalu and was taking his time to take a call.

But a seasoned politician like Lalu Prasad checkmated his alliance partner’s hyperbole. Before the Congress could decide on his invite, Lalu made it known to the world that he was busy with candidate selection and would not go for the rally. His son Tejasawi is a political green horn and by making him share the dais with Rahul, one is not certain whose stature has been enhanced.

For the three days RJD sources had been suggesting that Nitish too wouldn’t go. They were not off the mark. Rahul, on his part however, didn’t speak a word on their absence.