Will Bharat Jodo Yatra help transform Rahul Gandhi’s image?

The Congress is pinning its hopes on the ambitious march to help build the image of its leader who has been the target of a sustained social media onslaught by political rivals

Even though the Bharat Jodo Yatra is aimed at combating the divisive politics of the BJP, besides issues like unemployment, price rise and corruption prevailing in the country, the Congress party, which is spearheading the padayatra, is pinning its hopes on the ambitious march helping build the image of its leader Rahul Gandhi, that has been the target of a sustained social media onslaught by its political rivals.

Partymen are confident that the direct interactions of the Congress leader with a large number of people including farmers, middle class and people from different walks of life as well as Congressmen will help in an image make-over their party leader badly needs.

Mr. Gandhi himself addressed the issue during a press conference in Turuvukere in Tumkur on Saturday when he said his communication with the people has been much better without the conventional distance that is maintained by the political class from citizens. “When you are walking on the road, the communication is much better. They speak more clearly and you understand the discussion much better,” he said.

He said thousands of crores of rupees and energy had been spent on the media in an attempt to paint him in an “untruthful and wrong” manner. “That machine is going to continue. That is a well-oiled, financially rich machine. My truth is different. It has always been different. And people who care to look carefully will see what I stand for and what my truth is,” he said.

He also sounded wary of the communication he makes through cameras, which he said can be “distorted” by certain “interests”. Instead, he preferred the direct conversations he was having with the people that are “more truthful”. “These direct conversations cannot be distorted. It is a beautiful experience,” he said.

Dr Shushrutha H V, a neurologist from Mysuru, who returned to India after working in the US for 16 years, and is presently a “Bharat Yatri”, said his opinion on Mr. Gandhi, that had been built on the “distorted social media” feed, changed after he met him. During his interactions with the Congress leader on issues relating to healthcare and telemedicine in India, Dr Shushrutha said he found him to be not only “intelligent, but also sincere and honest” in his commitment to social justice, religious equality and preservation of the Constitution.

However, Dr Shushrutha pointed out that Mr. Gandhi was not made of a “traditional politician fabric”. People who are used to seeing netas in a particular avatar and hearing them speak a particular language, will find it difficult to understand Mr. Gandhi because of his sincerity, he felt. “But one interaction with him will change their negative perception about him,” he said.