BJP's caricature of Rahul not working anymore: Shashi Tharoor


New Delhi, Oct 22 (PTI): The BJP had "very successfully caricatured" Rahul Gandhi but the tactic is no longer working because the people now see the Congress vice president as an "effective opponent" to the ruling party, former minister Shashi Tharoor has said.

The Congress MP said the narrative had "changed very very clearly" in the past few months and people were now openly expressing "doubts and misgivings" about how the Narendra Modi government was performing.

People are also more willing to see the Congress as a viable alternative to the BJP, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said.

"The BJP had very successfully caricatured Rahul Gandhi in the past. That is no longer working because Rahul Gandhi is seen as a rather effective opponent to the BJP...As this changed narrative proceeds, you are going to find more and more momentum behind the Congress," he asserted.

Tharoor said a change was visible with the Congress's recent victory in the by-election in Gurdaspur in Punjab and of its ally in Vengara in Kerala and claimed the BJP's attempts to conduct 'yatras' in places such as Kerala and Gujarat had "fallen flat".

"I also feel very strongly that the people are beginning to ask when is the government going to keep the promises it has made...We are already riding much higher in people's estimation than we were in the April or May of 2014, of that there is no doubt," the 61-year-old leader said.

His comments assume significance as Rahul is expected to take over the reins of the Congress soon.

Last month, while addressing students at the University of California in the United States, the Congress vice president had said the impression that he was a reluctant politician was a result of a campaign against him by the other political camp.

"There is a BJP machine, about a thousand guys, sitting on computers that basically tell you about me," he had said.

Tharoor said when Rahul takes over, there will be "fresh energy" injected into the party.

Noting that there was still time for the general election, Tharoor said Congress's credibility was on the rise.

Asked if the state elections were any indication of the 2019 poll outcome, Tharoor said drawing conclusions from the state elections "may not always be the wisest way forward".

"My gut instinct says we are doing well...In the next 12 months some very clear patterns will emerge," he argued.

The former minister of state for external affairs, who has been vocal in criticising the government's stand on the Rohingya issue, said forced deportation would "give India a very bad name in the international community".

Tharoor answered in the affirmative when asked if India's stature in the world arena would take a hit if the Rohingya were deported.

"You cannot start off with the presumption that they are terrorists. Many of them are women and children, they are obviously innocents," he said.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Albert, Mangalore

    Mon, Oct 23 2017

    Shashi Tharoor also knows he is joking..but he has to save his rented home.

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalurian, Mangaluru

    Mon, Oct 23 2017

    Mr Rahul Gandhi is well aware of the pain many middle-class and poor people are going through.

    As Mr Gandhi rightly said in California, a throusand "BJP machine" guys are busy creating an impression in the public that Mr Gandhi is an under-achiever.

    But the ploy has failed. The machine can't fool the entire spectrum of the middle-class and poor in India.

    India has woken up.

    Almost all foreign countries have woken up too! There are no articles in the foreign press praising India.

    The 'Make in India' has completely failed. India - run by the BJP - is getting the Vallabh Bhai statue made in China!

    The only real beneficiary over the last three years has been Gujarat: be it 100,000 crores Bullet train, 10s of thousands of crores worth of ancillary services for the Bullet train, and many other projects - but to be paid by all Indians!

    BJP has absolutely no chance to win another term at the Centre.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • ca girishkk, m'lore/dxb

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    There is an indication clearly emerging that secular thinking Hindu's are already realising and silently defeat FEKU Hinduism mentors who talk & doing things to fulfill particular ideology...,

    All said & done.., all opponent political party polling both agents now onwards must be well trained to check the voting machine...,

    jh
    jai hind...,

    DisAgree [2] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Each and every policy of BJP government is total failure

    DisAgree [5] Agree [36] Reply Report Abuse

  • RK, mangalore

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    I believe in Congress but not RG. Hope congress will understand soon....

    DisAgree [27] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mahendra Shetty, Mumbai Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    FIRST ANSWER WHO KILLED SUNANDA AND WHY?

    THE GUY IS OPPOSING HIS OWN WIFE MYSTERIOUS DEATH INVESTIGATION AND HE IS PREACHING BJP.........

    CHAMCHAGIRI KA B HADH HOTA HAI.....

    DisAgree [46] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • alfria, Mumbai/Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Shetty : feku got all the investigation agencies under his control, the agencies work as per fekus whims and fancy, what is stopping him in investigating, the cause of the death, let him investigate and punish tharoor if found quilty.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [40] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter, KSA

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Killing wife or deserting wife at old age and keeping under house arrest, forbidding to meet media people in the pretext of providing security is more or less the same.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • leslie, udupi

    Mon, Oct 23 2017

    Many vehement talks have a lot false behind them....
    Many humble acts have a lot of efforts behind them...
    Life is life... Has to recognise life... Has to help life....

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Leslie, Udupi

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    History often repeats...
    Kuch udhar to kuch idhar...
    Maturity takes a while to fully form...
    Formerly it was made to sound he was talking crap...
    Now entire BJP is talking crap in desperation....
    Sushmaji is sidelined and silk smita is doing item dance...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prasanna, Bajpe/Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Who Killed Sunanda???

    Is Jawab ka Sawal Chayiye...

    DisAgree [43] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stan, Udupi/Dubai

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Ask the investigating authorities why they were not able to crack the case till now?.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse

  • RonRon, Udupi

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Ask republic TV editor...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • kas, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Is Jawab ka Sawal Chayiye........... or .......Is sawal ka jawab Chayiye...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    When is the Coronation of youth prince?

    DisAgree [16] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter, KSA

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    That day will be cow government mukth bharat.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • cyril Pinto, South Kanara/Sunkadakatte, Bajpe

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Yes. Rahul is going to turn the tables for Congress. He is going to win a massive mandate after naming him Party President.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [47] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ponkra, Dubai

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    So many people trying their donkey to be Horse Shashi Tharoor one of them............

    DisAgree [53] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Satya, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    But the nation has now realised that the supposed horses they elected 3 years ago are actually donkeys...... clueless and directionless and only good at playing blame games. These blame games have become boring and meaningless, as the country is going through an economic crisis which is being described as technical, by another supposed horse.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [50] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    FEKUS ARE WORST THAN DONKEYS..

    DisAgree [3] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Last few weeks PAPPU has battered FEKU ...

    DisAgree [8] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan, Mangaluru

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    BJP Govt., has let down India very very badly.

    It is not a trial and error game, that was expected of BJP. They talked themselves as masters in development, now suddenly turned themselves into crafted conmen. It is still in the gissaha-pissaha narration of anti-congress, where even fmr PM Deve Gowda too can claim better record than Modi.

    In months to come, BJP and RSS will go strongly on communal and anti-congress rant to improve their chances. TV Chnl anchors with their party loyalty over country, would push the debates for weeks, instead of questioning BJP govt on their massive failures. BJP call centers that suddenly pop in kazak to pak, will be there to help it.

    But, it is the middle class who got the power to change things to better or worse. They will make sure that they are not fooled again with big slogans and only slogans.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse

  • MAS, kundapur/DXB

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Now Sunanda death case will come u p.....in Republic TV soon......

    DisAgree [6] Agree [36] Reply Report Abuse

  • stephen, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    I will not vote a LAIR and the one who has made india miserable. I will vote for Shri Rahul Gandhiji.Bhakts tell whatever u want, I am free to make my decision.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse

  • JAGDISH, mumbai

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    Sashi Bhai......Over confidence is not good.

    DisAgree [54] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • ABDUL RAFIQ, Uchila

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    @Jagdish,
    People had over confidence on Modi but he screwed the entire country by his blunders like demonetization and GST. Because of Modi, BJP is going to disappear from the country. BJP mukth Bharath very soon.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [40] Reply Report Abuse

  • Satya, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 22 2017

    It is not overconfidence, but truth. Blaming the congress for everything and poking fun at Rahul Gandhi is the only achievement of this government. Just has everything has a shelf life, Modi's shelf life is also coming to a close. Very soon he will be like a date expired product. A good joke is laughed at only once, you cannot keep repeating it a million times and if you do, then you become a joker yourself. Exactly what is happening to BJP and its leaders. Today they are looked upon as jokers. Each time Modi pokes fun at Rahul Gandhi, his standing rises a little bit. People today have realised that he is victim of malicious propaganda without any truth in it.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [59] Reply Report Abuse


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