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The Congress vice president has recently come out of his shell and started interacting with the media on a vast array of topics. Here’s what he spoke about.
After Narendra Modi’s Chai pe Charcha, comes Rahul Gandhi’s ‘gupshup with the media’.
Speaking to around 60 journalists in three different sittings, the Congress vice president, who is known to be media shy when it comes to his personal life, opened up on a range of topics from his marriage, to the future of the party and even revealed where and what he was doing during his 57-day sabbatical earlier this year.
In fact, the gates of his 12 Tughlaq Lane residence are now more open than they ever were in the past, including to Opposition leaders.
The Congress leader has been quite candid in his answers. When asked about his long-speculated-about marriage, the 45-year-old Congress scion responded, “Why are you so interested in my marriage?" and added, "I want to stay aloof from the ties of married life.”
He further opened up about his family life, saying that his mother, Sonia Gandhi, has always been his mentor, while his sister Priyanka -- "with whom I share all information" -- is shaping him "for an elevated position".
This latest statement can be taken as a sign that Rahul is being primed to take over the Congress reins in the near future.
Rahul also opened up about his recent sabbatical, which was spoken of in much detail in the media. “I went to Laos, Vietnam, Maldives and interacted with the youngsters, to get to know their problems.
"I analyse myself after meeting youngsters about their dreams."
The Congress leader also extolled the benefits of doing Vipassana, saying the introspection gave him peace. "That's why I go alone, without my SPG security."
In fact, at one of the sessions with the media, Rahul said, “I have now got the confidence to take on Narendra Modi at any public debate.”
Rahul also seemed buoyed by the recent success of the Congress in the Bihar assembly elections. Keeping in view, future elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rahul said, “Ekla chalo re (walk the path alone) has become irrelevant in Indian politics and it is the time of coalition politics."
Saying the "past is behind me", he also indicated his willingness to do business with all like-minded and secular forces, hinting at forging alliances and coalitions for the upcoming state elections.
In fact, in West Bengal, the Congress is already holding talks with the Left parties for the polls, scheduled to be held in May-June of 2016. Similarly, in Assam, the Congress is leaning towards an alliance with Badruddin Ajmal’s All India United Democratic Front after Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that a repeat of the Bihar experiment was required in the state to rout the saffron party.
However, Rahul did not specify which party the Congress would tie up with in Tamil Nadu. But he was categorical in saying that he was willing to concede his party's space to electoral partners in the larger interests (of defeating the BJP).
When asked about the future of veterans in the party in regard to Jairam Ramesh’s ‘time up for over 60-plus netas in Congress’ remark, Rahul said that it was Ramesh’s personal view and he couldn’t comment on it.