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When senior Congress chief Kapil Sibal’s interview questioning his social gathering’s capacity to be an alternative choice to the BJP in backdrop of Bihar ballot outcomes hit the newspapers, the Congress was silent for a complete day. The silence was damaged late night when Rajasthan Chief Minister and social gathering veteran Ashok Gehlot tweeted to say “There was no need for Mr Kapil Sibal to mention our internal issue in the media, this has hurt the sentiments of party workers across the country”.
Then once more, a number of days after it was clear that BJP-ruled states Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh had been planning to go the ‘love jihad’ regulation, it was once more Gehlot who was the first to react from the social gathering. He tweeted: “Love jihad is a word manufactured by BJP to divide the nation and disturb communal harmony. Marriage is a matter of personal liberty, bringing a law to curb it is completely unconstitutional and will not stand in any court of law. Jihad has no place in love.”
Till Gehlot spoke out, nobody from the Congress had and even then, the social gathering has been very guarded in its response to the regulation because it’s conscious it may hurt its try and challenge itself as a Hindutva social gathering.
The widespread thread of Gehlot being the first to articulate a place throws up an attention-grabbing debate. Is Gehlot the new Ahmed Patel? Will he be used as the troubleshooter or fireplace fighter for the social gathering in powerful occasions? With Patel nonetheless recovering from Covid-19 problems and virtually unlikely to be as energetic as earlier than, the Congress wants somebody like him much more.
To perceive why Gehlot could possibly be the greatest candidate for this job, it’s additionally necessary to know what Patel dropped at the desk. Patel belongs to the previous fashion of politics of reaching out to politicians throughout social gathering strains, bureaucrats and corporates. Everyone is a possible ally is his mantra and a name from “Ahmed bhai” as he’s referred to as may truly ship many occasions.
But Rahul Gandhi’s Congress is just not in sync with Patel. It’s a identified undeniable fact that Rahul Gandhi isn’t as snug working with Patel and his fashion and if made president of his social gathering, would doubtless look for a substitute. But the drawback is that only a few in the social gathering have the acumen which Patel needed to negotiate and win over. Gehlot virtually matches the invoice.
First, he shares private equation with Rahul Gandhi and in addition has his belief. When Rahul Gandhi was president, it was Gehlot who was in-charge of organisation and the two labored collectively. The Congress’s good efficiency in Gujarat state polls was additionally attributed to Gehlot’s sturdy grassroots mettle.
Gehlot has the stature and seniority and shares private rapport with many seniors throughout social gathering strains. A name from Gehlot may get quick response. He can be a robust grassroots chief and this provides to his energy. Like Patel, Gehlot prefers a low profile; although the solely time Gehlot appeared to have shed his usually reticent picture was when he attacked Sachin Pilot for being “nikamma”.
Those who’ve watched Gehlot intently had been stunned. Gehlot is understood to be silent, calm, keen on jasmine tea and Parle-G biscuit. His animosity with any chief is just not revealed overtly and given the complicated political occasions, that is seen as an asset. “They say about Patel that it is very difficult to gauge what’s on his mind. Gehlot is almost like this; his smile camouflages his strategy and plans,” says a senior chief.
It’s not a coincidence that Gehlot spoke out on two contentious points. Sources say the Gandhis needed this mentioned however via somebody who had the stature and the political weight. While there is no such thing as a discuss of any eventual shifting of Gehlot to the Centre if Rahul Gandhi turns into social gathering president, however the reality is that he may have an necessary function to play in ironing out the wrinkles in the social gathering. And that’s the place the want and indispensability of one other Patel is available in. This time, somebody who makes Rahul Gandhi snug.
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