An unusually assertive and spirited speech by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi seems to have had the desired effect on the party's cadre. For the cheering crowds at the AICC meet in Delhi on Friday, the unveiling of a combative Rahul who will lead the party's Lok Sabha election campaign has also come to signify his elevation as the party's new top leader.
Reactions to Rahul calling on party workers to go to "battle with their heads held high, with passion in their heart and faith in the future," suggested that he had succeeded in energising the cadre that was in desperate need of a morale boost, especially after the drubbing the party received at the recent assembly elections.
Rahul Gandhi at the meet. PTI
Said AICC secretary Kuljit Singh Nagra,"There has been a tremendous response (to Rahul's speech). People wanted Rahulji to lead the party. And this was a necessity. The party, particularly, needed the enthusiasm, the energy and the fighting spirit. What Rahulji referred to as the warrior spirit, this is what the Congress party worker needed to hear."
Reacting to Rahul's attack on the campaign by the Opposition led by BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Nagra said, "Rahulji has given a fitting response to the slogan that the Opposition has raised of ridding the country of the Congress. What is the Congress, after all? It is a philosophy that represents the idea of India."
The reason Rahul's speech was such a hit with the party workers, Nagra said, was because, "he spoke from the heart and with sincerity."
Asked what touched him as a Congress worker about Rahul's speech the most, the AICC secretary said, "It was he said about Congress being an idea, a philosophy enshrined in the Gita, in teachings of the Guru Nanak, in rulers like Ashoka and Akbar."
Rahul's challenge to the Opposition was lapped up the youth congress leaders present at the AICC meet.
"What he said in response to the Opposition's slogan about a Congress-free India touched us a lot. He described it in a way that resonates with each and every Indian. You cannot separate India from the Congress: that is the theme Rahulji has given every Congress worker. It was very inspiring. He is the real leader of the youth. Today he has said what the youth wants and he has delivered it. It was a memorable and a touching speech for the youth," said Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Rajeev Satav.
Rahul's speech, said Satav, had dispelled the notions that the party was going into this election from a position of weakness. "There was talk that the Congress party was on the back-foot. After this speech, no one can say that."
Asked what the take-away for young Congress workers, who Rahul repeatedly addressed during his speech, was Satav said, "Most of the youth leaders spoke today. The message the party gave today was: young nation, young leaders, young India. I feel youth workers and youth leaders present today were very happy to see the changes that are taking place in the party. The new presidents of PCCs (state congress committee) are all young leaders, (referring to the recent appointments of Arvinder Singh Lovely and Sachin Pilot as the presidents of Delhi and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committees). And the party is now promoting Rahulji as the next leader. I feel there is a lot of hope and aspiration among the Youth Congress today…Congress is an old party but now it is also a young party."
Satav insists there is no disappointment among the cadre that Rahul was not named as the party's prime ministerial candidate. "There is no tradition in Congress of naming a PM candidate. It is important that the party should fight under the leadership Rahulji and everybody has spoken in one voice. I am happy that all leaders are united and that they are pushing for young leaders."
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