Outlook English - Print Subscribers Copy Outlook English, 18 June 2018 | Page 35

Rahul Gandhi 48
Member of Parliament from Amethi
President of the Indian National
Congress
STRENGTHS
His youthful and clean image
Has shown spunk in taking on the
might of Narendra Modi and the
BJP’s ruthless election machinery in
states like Gujarat, and beating the
BJP at its own game by forming the
government in Karnataka, besides his
much-discussed temple run
● Is more pragmatic and secure as he
empowers party seniors like Kamal
Nath, Ashok Gehlot and Ghulam Nabi
Azad
●
●
WEAKNESSES
● Compared to single-minded Modi,
tends to come across as a non-serious
politician who takes frequent breaks
and holidays
● Inexperience in administration as he
refused to take up any role in the UPA
government
● Can come across as impetuous in
decision-making, as when he publicly
tore to shreds the UPA ordinance on
convicted lawmakers
OPPORTUNITIES
PUZZLE
PTI
● Can cash in on the dipping curve of
the Modi government
● His easy-going and friendly persona
is being used to present him as Modi’s
antithesis
● Congress legacy can be used to
leverage voters feeling let down by the
Modi government
● Has shown openness in taking a back
seat to regional leaders and working
with them, and has an easy equation
with other political scions like Akhilesh
Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Jayant
Chaudhary
THREATS
● The BJP and the right-wing social-
media machinery will not allow the
‘Pappu’ image to disappear easily
● His reluctance to take responsibility
● Rise of regional parties in states
tion faces a tough question: Who will lead them?
18 June 2018 OUTLOOK 35