Timing is of essence in politics. But the Congress is, to borrow a cricketing analogy, not always the best timer of the political ball. Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Rae Bareli — a seat that has been represented by the Gandhis for long — is a case in point. Mr Gandhi decided to fight from Rae Bareli — not from Amethi where he had lost in 2019 — after considerable speculation and delay, all of which ought to have been avoided during poll season. The seeming confusion — diffidence? — gave the Bharatiya Janata Party an opportunity to crow about Mr Gandhi’s lack of appetite for a fight, an image that the BJP and its shadowy ecosystem have been trying to cement in the public consciousness for years. Of course, the fact that the BJP’s tallest mascot, Narendra Modi, remains tethered to his safe bastion in Varanasi despite all the talk of the prime minister dipping his toes in the uncertain waters south of the Vindhyas is not something that the BJP is willing to address.
Mr Gandhi’s ploy to return to the Hindi heartland is not bereft of tactical reasons. His shift to Wayanad in Kerala did create ripple effects for the Congress, especially in the assembly elections in Karnataka and Telangana. The Congress would be hoping to generate something similar in the northern belt, the principal citadel of the BJP, given its disheartening electoral returns from this turf in recent years. Any spark could also energise the INDIA bloc: the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are fighting as allies in Uttar Pradesh. What would be interesting to see is whether Mr Gandhi chooses Rae Bareli over Wayanad in the event of him winning both seats. This is because the Congress’s resurrection — politically and ideologically — would not be possible by evading the toughest of electoral battles in the north and the west of the country. In fact, there is a case to argue that Mr Gandhi should have taken up the challenge to reclaim Amethi from the BJP. The electoral outcome of that battle would have been undermined by the combative gesture from Mr Gandhi. It could have electrified the Congress rank and file; perhaps even the electorate.
