Cong leaders get crash course in public speaking

Far away from the high drama in the Congress regarding the chief minister8217;s post and allegations and counter-allegations between Congress leaders Narayan Rane and Vilasrao Deshmukh...

Far away from the high drama in the Congress regarding the chief minister8217;s post and allegations and counter-allegations between Congress leaders Narayan Rane and Vilasrao Deshmukh, 200 city Congress leaders were busy honing their oratorical skills and learning what it takes to be a true Congress leader, ahead of the elections.

With politicians succumbing to the 8216;foot-in-the-mouth disease8217; with alarming frequency, the Pune City District Congress committee held a two-day workshop at a private resort at Khadakwasla to teach members to be better orators.

They were told how to tackle the electronic media, what books would help in improving oratorical skills and how they should represent themselves before the public. The topics focused mainly on building public image. Guiding them were prominent public speakers and personality development experts Minocher Patel and Vandan Nagarkar.

The talks dwelled on politicians 8220;maintaining a clean image8221; and speaking with conscience on the work done and how to choose words carefully. Patel and Nagarkar, who conducted the workshop, listed books for reference that included Gandhian philosophy.

8220;After the Mumbai terror attacks, BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is doing all it can to corner the Congress. For the Lok Sabha polls, Congress should be able to put up a stiff resistance,8217;8217; said MP Suresh Kalmadi at the session. With discussions already on about the strategy of the Congress, Kalmadi urged members to take their role seriously and make the most of the workshop.

Pune City Congress head Abhay Chhajed, one of the organisers, said the idea of the workshop came about after the recent media-battering of politicians. Members who attended said such courses helped them give a new perspective to their thinking. 8220;I was at the workshop to understand how to speak before a crowd and the press. It is difficult to put one8217;s thoughts forward effectively during a pressure situation. Our body gestures and speech make a lot of difference,8217;8217; said a participant.