DECODING RAHUL GANDHI

Rahul Gandhi: An inconsistent and opportunistic BRAND of politics

 

Rahul Gandhi's philosophy is a form of corporate-politics where he plays the role of a management consultant representing himself as a 'brand' which has emerged as an inconsistent and opportunist brand over the years, says a new book.

'Decoding Rahul Gandhi ' by Aarthi Ramachandran chronicles his political path which is different from that pursued by his mother Sonia, father Rajiv and grandmother Indira.
" Rahul Gandhi's politics has conveyed a sense of opportunism as issues like the land acquisition bill taken up by him before the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls appear to have been left for another election" says Aarthi who has tracked Rahul Gandhi's political career closely during her career as a political journalist with leading dailies.
Keeping in view the current political scenario in the country and 2014 elections approaching it's the right time to decode and analyse whether 'Brand' Rahul can save the congress and of course the country in longer run or not, believes the author.
In the process of writing the book Aarthi had tried two years to do his interview for the sane and follow him on election trails but failed to do so. " I had to always meet a strong silence and nothing emerged from behind those walls but still I chose to go ahead with this book because he is not a political figure we can wish away with, we like hi or not" says Aarthi.
She adds, " Despite having a huge asset of being from Nehru Family, I believe it has become more of a liability for Rahul. But if he hasn't disappeared from politics till now, he won't be going easily. Hence the need to decode him."
The book published by  Tranquebar Press evaluates  various questions like how did Rahul Gandhi's years abroad as a student and as a management consultant influence his politics? Why have his plans flopped so far? What was his much hyped revamp of the Indian Youth Congress ( IYC)  and NSUI all about and much more such frequently raised questions about his personality and political career.
Thought the author claims to have neutrally examined his role in each of the situations yet she accept that she has been favourable to him at some points in the book.
" With my observation so far, I think  his intentions were never wrong just that he hasn't been able to accomplish them through politics. he doesn't seem to have that sense" says Aarthi.
Talking about his  political career so far, Aarthi says " Rahul is one such personality who wants to have his cake and not eat it. He doesn't want to put much of himself out or may be he is uncomfortable with the existing models".
After all his efforts to prove his himself and his failures, humiliating defeat in UP assembly elections being the major one, Aarthi believes its time he realises that the next phase of his career is begun and he comes out and says that he is done with his learning and ready to take decisions.
" He has done 6-7 years of on job training and field research. It's time for him to present his thesis  and come up with a blue print of what he can do for India and where he wants to take the country" says Aarthi.