Home truths

It is a truth universally acknowledged that this is an all-bets-off election. At this juncture,the Congress needs to expand its available post-poll choices as much as possible. Rahul Gandhi did his best to win friends and influence potential partners,even as he transformed his own image from a soft-spoken,platitudinous Clark Kent-like figure to the Congresss wily strategist-in-chief. He reached out to praise Nitish Kumars governance and bestow a more qualified approval on Chandrababu Naidu,giving the jitters to both the BJP and the Third Front. In his appreciation for Nitishs and Naidus records,rather than in forced attempts to stitch up a meeting of flexible ideologies,he signalled that what matters more in a stable coalition is compatible working styles and a commitment to delivering governance rather than perfect philosophical understanding. On the other hand,he also tried to sooth the Left though at the cost of increasing the partys incoherence on the political battlefield. He aimed to portray the Congress as the indispensable party,and deal a body blow to the NDA Where is the NDA on the ground? It exists only in the BJPs mind.

Gandhi also administered a deft reality check to competition: when the Left emerges as the largest party,well certainly support them,and a similar squashing for the Nationalist Congress Partys pretensions,and the idea of a Sharad Pawar prime ministership. If the Congress genuinely believes that,those hoping for a stable next few years will be pleased.

And the Congress might genuinely believe that because,in his short political career,Rahul Gandhi has patented a disarming straight-talk technique. Sometimes,in politics,stating the obvious for instance,Nitish Kumars leadership is widely lauded across the political spectrum can help. It can be used to extend feelers,jolt erstwhile allies like Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan,and destabilise opponents,in this case the NDA. With his vehement,oft-stated,antipathy to dynastic politics of which he admits he is a product,and his attempts to introduce some sort of open career ladder within the Congress,he provides himself and the party a useful escape route from the obvious criticism. What initially looked like a callow anti-politics dil ki rajniti,etc has now evolved into a well-worked operating procedure. But all this has been from the outside. If he ever consents to step into the mud pit of actual governance,well see how long he can keep up the candour.