Mr. Rahul Gandhi is the unofficially announced Prime Ministerial candidate of the Indian National Congress. Does the 43 year old have the desired qualities to lead our nation?
We are living in an age where the eyes and ears of the entire world are on the two most fastest developing economies - China and India. Being the de facto fountain head of power, the PM of India will wield an enormous responsibility of representing our nation in the political arena worldwide. His acts and gestures would have a global audience.
In the era of coalition politics, decision making on matters of national importance will solely be based on consensus. Consensus building becomes a herculean task for the government (read PM) as it has to not only include the views of the major ruling party, but also the voices of the coalition partners, mostly regional parties, which are, in most of the cases, not pan Indian in approach. Compromise will hence play the cardinal role. Given this, only a decisive PM with impeccable credentials and wide acceptability can successfully run a government, adhering to the constitutional mandate, for it's full term.
When it comes to international issues, a completely new set of qualities is required. Reticence will hold the key here. Each word uttered will make a sea change as it would be heard by not just 1.2 billion Indian people but by 5 times this number. The PM should also have a personality and an inherent charm that is welcome by the global leaders.
With these in the background, let's now turn our eyes to the crash landing of RG into the press briefing that was being done by Mr. Ajay Maken, on the 27th of September in the Press Club of India.
The way RG entered, rolled the already folded sleeves of his kurta in his quintessential bashing manner and started off, without even a basic courtesy welcome address to the media personnel present there, explicitly displayed his style, quite unbecoming of a Prime Ministerial candidate. It is hoped that RG does not take influence from Bollywood movies based on politics.
His restlessness and impatience displayed in the worst possible fashion, his choice of words completely juvenile. His ending of the impromptu speech with a 'Thank You' said with anything but politeness. His walking off after his speech, without even bothering to hear, let alone answer, the points raised by the media personnel showed his lack of concern, courage and conviction.
One can only wonder what Mr. Rahul Gandhi would do as the PM of India. Probably he himself is aware of his incompetence and that is the reason behind his not accepting any 'serious role' in the government. And if at all he isn't aware of this and does aspire to lead the nation, it is we, the diligent voters, who should show him the mirror.
