For the Congress, and to a great extent the other parties in the INDIA alliance as well, the most memorable sound of the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections would be “khata khat”. Rahul Gandhi first uttered it in a public meeting in Anupgarh in Rajasthan on April 11, ahead of the first phase of polling. Talking about the Congress’s poll promise of giving 8,500 a month to women of poor families, he said the money would land “khata khat” into their accounts, month after month.
“Khata khat” soon took on a life of its own, with party workers cheering in anticipation during Rahul’s speeches when he was about to say it. Allies adopted it and remodelled it. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav added a line saying the voters would ensure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party would be out of power “fata fat” (quickly). Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav added his own twist: “Mahaul tana tan, BJP safa chat” (the ambience is exhilarating and it shows the BJP will be wiped out). Modi, too, joined the party, saying “the INDIA bloc will break up khata khat”.
The poll pledge was in alignment with the Congress’s assessment that livelihood issues such as unemployment and inflation were important on the ground and would come into play in the absence of any other overarching sentiment. It conveyed to the voters the idea that the Congress’s priority was the underprivileged who are the majority of the population in contrast to what it claimed was the scenario under the Modi rule that fostered the prosperity of a chosen few.
With the Congress emerging as a much bigger force in the Lok Sabha, one shy of the three-digit mark, the result is seen as a validation of Rahul’s leadership. In fact, the Rahul that this election saw was a project that had begun in October 2022, when he had started his Bharat Jodo Yatra, a 4,000-kilometre walkathon from Kanyakumari to Srinagar.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Hat-Trick Or Has-Beens?
India look to win their third straight Test series in Australia, but ageing superstars and recent humiliation at home have cast a shadow on their hopes
Constipation Can Put Your Heart At Risk
PEOPLE WITH CONSTIPATION have an increased risk of major cardiac events, including heart attack, stroke and heart failure, especially if they also have high blood pressure, finds an international study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
Too Much Sitting Can Accelerate Ageing
SITTING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS can harm the heart and accelerate ageing, even if you are young and get the minimum recommended amount of daily exercise, according to a US study published in the journal PLOS One.
Efficiency and innovation
As health care evolves, professionals must employ innovative methods to refine their skills
Level up
Only 30 per cent of needy patients are able to undergo transplant in India; we need more dedicated transplant centres
HOPE STEMS FROM A CELL
While stem cell therapies have shown success in treating blood disorders, orthopaedic ailments, autoimmune diseases and eye issues, there is hope that they can one day treat patients with heart disease, blindness, Parkinson's, HIV, diabetes and spinal cord injuries
Mind matters
Your mindset can limit or expand your physical ability
Cutting edge
Would you go under the knife if a robot was the one holding it? Or would you say, \"No way, I need a human touch\"? You might have to decide soon because a robot that can imitate skilled human surgeons is already here.
The smallest cut
Minimally invasive surgeries have a bright future, with virtual reality and 3D procedures offering greater precision and AI on the horizon
Signalling a revolution
Canadian scientist and entrepreneur Sachdev Sidhu is focused on bringing cutting-edge antibody engineering to his country of origin