He arrived 55 minutes late. Around 130 journalists from Ahmedabad were invited for a special interaction with the Gandhi scion at Gujarat University Convention Hall in Ahmedabad. We had been warned thrice by the Special Protection Group (SPG) to switch off our mobile phones. We were told in simple words that if anyone's phone rang during the meet or if anyone tried to take his pictures, their phones would be confiscated. We gladly passed our time checking our mails, Twitter accounts and making small talk as we waited eagerly to meet the Congress Vice- President.
After spending 55 minutes hearing warnings and being told "kindly maintain decorum", Rahul Gandhi walked in with other Congress leaders - Arjun Modhwadia, Shankersinh Vaghela and Gurudas Kamat by his side. The next 5 minutes were wasted welcoming him with a bunch of flowers he didn't care about. Even when he was being welcomed and introduced, he was busy listening to his personal assistant. While shaking his legs continuously, he seemed restless. When he was invited to talk to "us", he finally got up from his chair and took the mic.
I had earlier interacted with Rahul when he met "us" in a similar fashion in February 2009. He was in Ahmedabad campaigning for his party. This time around, after almost four and a half years, "we" were invited again to interact with him. Cameras werent allowed. I took it as an opportunity to atleast learn about him from whatsoever was possible.
When he started to speak, I realised that a lot had changed in these four years. He appeared more confident. He had a lot to say. He began with sharing with us that he knew that the reason why Congress had failed in Gujarat was due to internal factionalism. All the Congress leaders present on the dais, stiffened up on listening to that. But who would raise a voice when Rahul Gandhi was speaking? Sensing that he wasn't exactly being a motivating leader, he quickly added that it wasn't a problem that couldn't be fixed. Dressed in a comfortable white Kurta Pajama, Rahul Gandhi pointed out that how managing the Congress Party was far more "complex" than being the head of NSUI and Youth Congress. For someone who has been working for over five years towards de-centralisation, Rahul was frank enough to admit that the task that he faced was a difficult and a complex one.
"My problem is that too few people run this country. Why should every small decision be taken by a CM or a PM? Why cant the Minister in Charge handle it?," he quipped.
In matter of few minutes, a restless, uninterested Rahul Gandhi, was speaking passionately about his vision for the Congress party.
We moved onto what we all wanted to know. What did he think about Narendra Modi? Did he think about him as a tough competition? What did he have to say about NaMo's growing popularity?
His answer was curt. "We will see what happens. He is BJP's PM candidate. Even in 2009, the press said, we would lose. You all know the results. If you ask about me, I am pretty confident of winning the next elections."
He seemed confident. There was no doubt about it. Even while he was speaking to us, he was using his touchscreen phone to browse. When he looked up, one journalist pointed out his recent outburst at a press conference where he said that the Ordinance was nonsense and it should be torn up.
He acknowledged the criticism that had come his way. But he quickly reiterated that he stood by what he had said. He even asked rhetorically as to why was he being penalised for doing the right thing? Was frank enough to admit that the period since this outburst had been difficult for him and was sorry if it had disturbed anyone. "But I did what my heart said."
A supremely confident Rahul Gandhi spoke his mind before us. He was in command. He recognised and understood the challenges before him. His spontaneous and candid answers displayed his comfort being the Vice-President and the undeclared PM Candidate of country's ruling party.
But it all came crashing down the moment he said, "You know what my Mom said? She said... The words I used were strong. As an afterthought, I agree the words were strong. But the sentiment wasn't wrong."
Even at 43, he remains a Mumma's boy!!!
After spending 55 minutes hearing warnings and being told "kindly maintain decorum", Rahul Gandhi walked in with other Congress leaders - Arjun Modhwadia, Shankersinh Vaghela and Gurudas Kamat by his side. The next 5 minutes were wasted welcoming him with a bunch of flowers he didn't care about. Even when he was being welcomed and introduced, he was busy listening to his personal assistant. While shaking his legs continuously, he seemed restless. When he was invited to talk to "us", he finally got up from his chair and took the mic.
I had earlier interacted with Rahul when he met "us" in a similar fashion in February 2009. He was in Ahmedabad campaigning for his party. This time around, after almost four and a half years, "we" were invited again to interact with him. Cameras werent allowed. I took it as an opportunity to atleast learn about him from whatsoever was possible.
When he started to speak, I realised that a lot had changed in these four years. He appeared more confident. He had a lot to say. He began with sharing with us that he knew that the reason why Congress had failed in Gujarat was due to internal factionalism. All the Congress leaders present on the dais, stiffened up on listening to that. But who would raise a voice when Rahul Gandhi was speaking? Sensing that he wasn't exactly being a motivating leader, he quickly added that it wasn't a problem that couldn't be fixed. Dressed in a comfortable white Kurta Pajama, Rahul Gandhi pointed out that how managing the Congress Party was far more "complex" than being the head of NSUI and Youth Congress. For someone who has been working for over five years towards de-centralisation, Rahul was frank enough to admit that the task that he faced was a difficult and a complex one.
"My problem is that too few people run this country. Why should every small decision be taken by a CM or a PM? Why cant the Minister in Charge handle it?," he quipped.
In matter of few minutes, a restless, uninterested Rahul Gandhi, was speaking passionately about his vision for the Congress party.
We moved onto what we all wanted to know. What did he think about Narendra Modi? Did he think about him as a tough competition? What did he have to say about NaMo's growing popularity?
His answer was curt. "We will see what happens. He is BJP's PM candidate. Even in 2009, the press said, we would lose. You all know the results. If you ask about me, I am pretty confident of winning the next elections."
He seemed confident. There was no doubt about it. Even while he was speaking to us, he was using his touchscreen phone to browse. When he looked up, one journalist pointed out his recent outburst at a press conference where he said that the Ordinance was nonsense and it should be torn up.
He acknowledged the criticism that had come his way. But he quickly reiterated that he stood by what he had said. He even asked rhetorically as to why was he being penalised for doing the right thing? Was frank enough to admit that the period since this outburst had been difficult for him and was sorry if it had disturbed anyone. "But I did what my heart said."
A supremely confident Rahul Gandhi spoke his mind before us. He was in command. He recognised and understood the challenges before him. His spontaneous and candid answers displayed his comfort being the Vice-President and the undeclared PM Candidate of country's ruling party.
But it all came crashing down the moment he said, "You know what my Mom said? She said... The words I used were strong. As an afterthought, I agree the words were strong. But the sentiment wasn't wrong."
Even at 43, he remains a Mumma's boy!!!
