Mainstream WeeklyThere is a strategic political coup that Rahul Gandhi can execute, and thereby transform the entire landscape of the 2019 elections. Routine politicking won’t do in the present climate because Narendra Modi’s oratorical ability to attract mass attention is unrivalled and his party has the advantage of being in power. It will be foolish to see 2019 as a Modi-versus- Rahul test. The Congress should understand this unusual situation and take unusual steps to meet the challenge.
Rahul can swing everything in his favour with a bit of daring, and a bit of the long view. The first step is to know that he cannot just shrug off the combined handicap of inexperience in government, relative youth and the dynasty tag. Modi makes fun of these by using nicknames like Shazada and Pappu. To imagine that this drawback can be overcome with fiery speeches, a foreign visit or two, and modern marketing technology would be to succumb to the temptations of power. Pressures to commit this mistake must be resisted with daring.
A long view is needed to realise that he has nothing to lose by waiting. Time is on his side. If he remains Congress President but formally withdraws from the perceived Prime-Minister-to-be position, it will be a boost to the Opposition among whom there are leaders sceptical of his lack of exposure to public office. The acceptability level of the Congress will increase simul-taneously, making Opposition unity easier to attain. The Congress will remain a major component of the Opposition alliance, entitled to all the benefits of a victor in case the alliance wins a majority in the election.
What if the Congress wins enough seats on its own to become a legitimate claimant for prime ministership? The shrewdest move Rahul Gandhi can make in such a situation is to put up another Congress leader for the top post and himself become a Cabinet Minister intent on gaining administrative experience. That will raise his political stock sky-high.
Indira Gandhi was a Minister in Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Cabinet, and she was the better administrator for that (although she didn’t like it at the time). By contrast, Chandrashekhar was a Member of Parliament for many years, active as a Young Turk. But he became the Prime Minister straightaway in November 1990 without any administrative experience in any branch of government. The result was that he became something of an Old Turk as the Prime Minister and lasted only seven months, after which he withered away.
Rahul Gandhi can kill two birds with one stone. While withdrawal from the prime ministerial race will crown him with a halo of wisdom, the presence of Congressmen with unimpeachable prime ministerial quality will strengthen the standing of his party in any alliance. Choosing the right one is a problem a party President with Rahul Gandhi’s clout can easily solve.
To cite two examples, P. Chidambaram is unofficially mentioned as a potential Prime Minister. But he could well be a disaster. For one thing,