Kalyani Shankar 

It might be too soon to judge how well Rahul Gandhi is doing as the new Leader of the Opposition. The current budget session ends in just a few days, so we’ll need more time to understand his leadership fully. But he has begun well.

After winning in the Lok Sabha polls, Rahul has been confident and strong both inside and outside the house, which is appropriate for an opposition leader.Nobel laureate Amartya Sen recently discussed Rahul’s evolution since their days at Cambridge University.

Sen underlined that Rahul has significantly matured over the years and underscored that his true test lies in how he steers the Opposition in Parliament.

Rahul stepped into the shoes of the Leader of the Opposition, a quarter of a century after his political debut in 2004. The Lok Sabha had been without a Leader of the Opposition for a decade, as no opposition party had the requisite number of members to stake the claim in the last two Lok Sabhas.

During the recent budget session, the first after Rahul became the LOP, he took a vital leadership role in his party and the Opposition. Since becoming the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi has taken on more responsibilities.

He now leads and represents the Opposition’s viewpoint on various subjects. This is a new role for him. He organised protests, delivered powerful speeches against the Modi government, and worked closely with allies to coordinate their efforts on the floor.

He also focused on critical issues for the people and made himself more accessible.In the recent budget session, Rahul Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition, took on an important leadership role within his party and the Opposition.

He has organised protests, delivered powerful speeches against the Modi government, and worked closely with allies. Additionally, he has focused on critical issues for the people and made himself more accessible.Rahul Gandhi’s backroom office has a team of about twelve key members.

This team, led by General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and including Sam Pitroda, Sunil Kanugolu, K. Buju, B. Srivatsa, Manickam Tagore, Alankar Sawai, and Kaushal Vidyarthi, plays a vital role in managing Gandhi’s political activities and election strategies, including logistics and social media.Rahul’s growth and evolution in the political arena have transformed him into a more confident leader, marking a significant departure from his previous image as a reluctant politician.

This change has been compelling to witness in his political journey.Rahul finds it easier to take on a more assertive role now, with a substantial number of opposition members in the 18th Lok Sabha. Furthermore, the success of united allies in the 2024 polls has made them realise the power of unity.

When Rahul spoke as the Leader of the Opposition for the first time, he said, “While the government has political power, the Opposition also represents the voice of the Indian people. This time, the Opposition represents significantly more of the Indian people’s voice than it did last time.

“Rahul Gandhi’s criticisms of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have caused strong reactions from the ruling party. During Rahul’s maiden speech as LOP, PM Modi spoke up for the first time in 10 years.

Modi accused Rahul of saying that the entire Hindu society is ‘violent’. The Prime Minister stated, “Democracy and the Constitution have taught me to take the Leader of the Opposition seriously.” Modi’s responses to Gandhi’s criticisms show an acknowledgement of the changed situation and the resulting tension in the Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi has been speaking out against the Modi government’s decision to arrest AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and JMM chief Hemant Soren. He opposes the BJP’s attempts to silence opposing viewpoints.

This has caused increased tensions in Parliament for the ruling party.During his Lok Sabha campaign, Rahul Gandhi strategically showed a small red pocket edition of the Constitution at public meetings. This move effectively highlighted what he called the perceived threat to the Constitution from the BJP.

His use of the Constitution helped him gain support from reservation beneficiaries.

Despite being an M.P. for the past two decades, Rahul was not considered a good Parliamentarian. He asked only 99 questions, participated in 26 debates, and wasn’t always present at critical times. Since 2014, he has been noticeably absent during budget sessions, only appearing occasionally. He also frequently went abroad, leaving the party in a crisis.Rahul is doing well as the Leader of the Opposition (LOP).

His success will depend on his political planning. He missed some opportunities in the past, like becoming a minister in Manmohan Singh’s cabinet or strengthening the party as the Congress President. 

However, his current role shows his potential. He must use this opportunity to face future political challenges confidently. Rahul’s belief in the power of the LOP to raise its voice in Parliament gives hope and optimism to the party.

(The writer is a popular columnist; views expressed are personal)