Rahul’s populist stand in Nanded

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday blew the election campaign bugle, chanting the theme of aam aadmi (common man), thus reconnecting his grand old party to the grassroots. His two public rallies at Wardha and Nanded set the stage for an aggressive campaign for 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

At Nanded, chief minister Ashok Chavan’s home turf, Rahul did plain talking for ten minutes centering his speech around the poor and oppressed. Often repeating the theme, he kept his focus emphatically, arguing, “If India has to march ahead, every individual needs to progress. The participation of poorest of the poor is necessary for the progress of the country. The UPA government, when voted to power, will lay its emphasis on inclusive growth for the aam aadmi.”

The script so overpowered with poor as the main plank could be compared to the late 1970s and early 1980s era when late Indira Gandhi gave the clarion call – Garibi Hatao. Although the slogan was different, Rahul revived the his grandmother’s
politics based on the poor and downtrodden.

He said, “Today, I visited Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram at Wardha. I believe in Gandhian philosophy. Gandhiji had lead the nation to drive away the angrez (British). Gandhiji had said the freedom movement took place in rural India. The battle were waged by the villagers and poor people.”

Making a scathing attack against the opposition (BJP), he said, “They talk about stock market and privatisation. They cannot see the world through the eyes of the poor. When I visit the poor villager’s home or hold their hand, the opposition ridicules me. They play divisive politics founded on hatred.