RAHUL RECAST
India Today|September 02, 2024
The Congress scion's performance as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and outside it has won him new admirers, but the Opposition needs to do much more if it has to take the fight to the BJP
KAUSHIK DEKA
RAHUL RECAST

IT was a monsoon-heavy July afternoon in Delhi, and the Lok Sabha was abuzz with anticipation. Members of Parliament, the seasoned and greenhorns alike, straightened in their seats in anticipation as Rahul Gandhi took the floor. His presence, once dismissed as inconsequential, now commanded the hall's full attention. In fact, his first speech in the 18th Lok Sabha drew interventions even from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

If the first speech was about how religion teaches non-violence-and how the Modi government's 10-year-old reign has been promoting "hate politics"-in his second address, Rahul built his narrative around the Mahabharata, a tale as old as Indian civilisation itself. He spoke of Abhimanyu, the young warrior who was trapped and slain by a coalition of his enemies-men who bent the rules of war to ensure his defeat. The parallels he drew were debatable, but the newfound confidence in his tone was unmissable. Rahul likened Abhimanyu's plight to that of today's India, with the government of the day and its industrialist allies cast as the rule-bending warriors.

This was not the Rahul of old, the one who occasionally fumbled through speeches and shied away from confrontation. This was a man transformed. The rigours of two yatras across the length and breadth of India, the numerical strength of the Opposition alliance and the results of 2024 Lok Sabha election, which left the ruling BJP short of the majority mark, have added a new sense of purpose to Rahul's political journey. Often criticised for not having a coherent discourse, he has learned the art of storytelling, wielding it as deftly as any weapon in his new political arsenal.

Denne historien er fra September 02, 2024-utgaven av India Today.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra September 02, 2024-utgaven av India Today.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA INDIA TODAYSe alt
High & Mighty
India Today

High & Mighty

High And Mighty.

time-read
10 mins  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue
ELECTRIC MAJESTY
India Today

ELECTRIC MAJESTY

THE EQS SUV SETS A NEW STANDARD FOR A LUXURY FAMILY VEHICLE

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue
SMALL IS IN
India Today

SMALL IS IN

IT'S SMALL WONDER that when it comes to size, there are such distinct preferences, particularly when it comes to watches.

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue
WHAT'S COOKING?
India Today

WHAT'S COOKING?

The new culinary hotspots of gourmet Michelin dining in Hong Kong

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue
NEED OF THE HOUR
India Today

NEED OF THE HOUR

Is the tenth time the charm for Apple’s iconic wearable? Let’s clock in.

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue
A Symphony Smoke of and Style
India Today

A Symphony Smoke of and Style

Pairing some of the most feted peated whiskies from India and around the world.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue
THE TOP SHELF INDIAN SPIRITS
India Today

THE TOP SHELF INDIAN SPIRITS

Toasting some of the finest sips from around the country

time-read
4 mins  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue
THAI HIGH
India Today

THAI HIGH

What's it like to stay in the best hotel in the world? Spice spends a decadent weekend at Capella Bangkok, awarded the best hotel in the world by The World's 50 Best Hotels 2024.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue
OUR FAVORITE F WORDS
India Today

OUR FAVORITE F WORDS

Why fashion and food are frolicking together in an epic romance.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue
Past Perfect
India Today

Past Perfect

Whether it is to create cultural touchstones, a springboard for creativity, or save the planet, many chefs are revisiting traditional cooking techniques and sustainable practices.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 11, 2024 - Special Issue