Fly on the wall
Modi & Rahul: A picture in contrast
If Prime Minister Narendra Modi has adopted an aggressive publicity policy to reach out to the large population, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is a picture in complete contrast. If Modi has been giving long interviews to leading national & regional newspapers and TV channels, Rahul Gandhi has chosen to keep them at bay. If Modi has gone to the extent of giving short bytes and long interviews to TV channel reporters during his road shows in Patna, Varanasi and elsewhere after the third phase of polling to enhance his reach, Rahul Gandhi has kept the media at arm's length so far. If Modi's unprecedented decision to allow free access to reporters to ride his rath and talk to them is an indication of a tough fight ahead, Rahul Gandhi remains unmoved despite pressures from his media department to follow the same course. If Modi invited social media influencers who have large fan-following, at his residence and gave wide publicity to his outreach programs, Rahul Gandhi chose to keep such interactions completely under wraps. It is said that Rahul Gandhi met many Ytubers, social media influencers and other social media persons in 3-4 batches, conditions were applied. Rahul wanted to treat such interactions private and nothing should be reported. Rahul Gandhi has not given a single interview to any newspaper or TV channel so far even as the Lok Sabha polls are nearly coming to an end. Even Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has not given a formal interview to any newspaper except for side bytes during campaigning. The task of giving interviews has been entrusted to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh or whosoever is assigned to interact with the media.
The Backroom game begins
In a significant decision, the RSS Sar Karyavah (General Secretary) Dattatreya Hosabole who was elected to the post again for three years last month, has been posted to New Delhi. Hosabole who hails from Karnataka and stationed at Lucknow earlier, has been posted here. Hosabole will continue to hold the post until 2027. The second most powerful leader in the RSS hierarchy, Hosabole will play a significant role in the months to come. Though B L Santosh, BJP general secretary (Organisation), is the key functionary to be the bridge between the RSS and the BJP, he has lately been maintaining a low profile after the BJP's debacle in Karnataka Assembly polls. Hosabole will play a crucial role in sorting out any misgivings between the RSS and the BJP leadership on issues. Earlier, it was felt that the RSS had not been happy with some of the decisions taken by the BJP including admission of highly corrupt leaders of other parties into the fold and a couple of other issues. PM Modi's night halt at Nagpur on April 19 was also seen as part of sorting out any issue that may be troubling the RSS. It transpires that the entire RSS machinery is working whole-heartedly to ensure BJP's win at the hustings. As the election results will be out on June 4, the consultation process with the BJP's mother organisation will also increase in the government formation. Therefore, Hosabole's posting (Pravas) is considered significant.
Wheels within wheels
Telangana's Congress Chief Minister has turned out to be an astute politician whose maneuvering capabilities have surprised even the top BJP leadership. The Congress leadership was also taken aback as reports poured in that Reddy helped the TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh during the just concluded Lok Sabha & Assembly polls on May 13. It transpires that Revanth Reddy was extremely upset with the YSRCP leader and Andhra Chief Minister, JaganMohan Reddy for joining hands with his Telangana counterpart BRS leader K Chandrashekhar Rao. The reason for YSRCP-BRS bonhomie was that JaganMohan Reddy wanted KCR to harass businessmen belonging to the Khama community residing in Hyderabad. The rich Khamma community has been helping Chandrababu Naidu who is also a powerful leader of their community. Revanth Reddy argued with his party high command that he helped Naidu to demolish YSRCP as it was an off-shoot of the Congress. This will ultimately help Y S Sharmila, Andhra PCC Chief to demolish JaganMohan Reddy's political hegemony in the state. Secondly, Revanth Reddy wanted a friendly government in the neighbourhood. Killing two birds with one stone!!!
Yogi's in political crossfire
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came in between political crossfire recently when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that Modi will not remain Prime Minister after he attains the age of 75 years in September 2025. Kejriwal also predicted that Yogi Adityanath will not remain UP CM if the BJP wins Lok Sabha elections and will be brought to Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted at a specially held press conference saying, “The BJP's constitution does not have any provision to retire workers who attain 75 years of age.” However, he remained silent on Kejri's comment on Yogi Adityanath. Maybe, he left it to the PM's discretion to respond. But Modi went out of his way and showered praises on Yogi during coupole of rallies and in an interview on May 14 saying, “The state has seen development under Yogi's leadership. The people of UP cannot accept 'parivarvaad' (dynasty politics). They have seen an alternate model which has changed the lives of the people, and the difference has been visible under the governance of Yogi Adityanath.”
