“We want Rahul, we want Rahul” party workers shouted at the party conclave. It was a chant the leadership had gotten used to hearing. Wherever they went, the top brass were assailed with the same question: “When will Rahul baba be declared the PM candidate? When will you fill our hearts with joy with news of his anointment?”
A few months ago, Rahul’s elevation to the number two position as Congress Vice President at the Jaipur Chintan Shivir had brought some cheer, a ray of hope to dispel the gloom of darkness engulfing the party. Since then energized cadre had built a throbbing, colorful campaign around the Nehru-Gandhi scion. Contrary to prevailing perception, people thronged election rallies to hear about the Nehru-Gandhi scion’s feats, his vision for the country, his ideas. His very name brought smiles to the withered faces of the masses, a flowering cactus in a desert devoid of cheer.
And now the murmurings to formally declare his candidature had reached a crescendo. Party leaders privately echoed the sentiments of the cadre that formally declaring him as the PM candidate would give the flagging campaign a much needed impetus. But alas, it was not in their hands. Only Rahul could decide whether he wanted to declare himself as PM candidate. And there was the danger of his suddenly taking off for Europe for vacation, leaving everyone in the lurch, robbing the campaign of its edge. These risks had to be factored in. A senior party leader tut-tutted the over reliance on the dynasty but then it seemed to be working. Leaders were unanimous that Rahul would push them over the line.
“Shaant ho jaiye,” the President said. “We are keeping our fingers crossed but it is not in our hands. It is for Rahul baba to decide. We can only hope and pray,” Rajnath Singh said. The BJP karyakartas groaned and once again began to chant, “We want Rahul, We want Rahul.”