The query was certainly hypothetical ~ the answer reflected the arrogance and sense of “entitlement” that has been a hallmark of the Congress party in general, and the Nehru-Gandhi family in particular.

It is true that Rahul Gandhi prefaced his readiness to become prime minister in 2019 with the condition that the Congress established itself as the biggest party in the Lok Sabha after the next general election, yet it did not appear to enter his calculation that the party would first have to elect him its leader, the Congress takes that for granted.

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As much as Modi’s BJP it has reduced itself to a one-man show. Nor did Rahul condescend to accept that other parties ~ surely he does not predict a landslide-wave in favour of the party ~ would also have to accept him as their prime ministerial nominee, either before or after the poll.

The Congress president tried to be smart by reminding everyone that a united Opposition unseated even his father who had a record breaking majority (critics would insist it was secured after Indira’s coldblooded assassination) in 1984, but he declined to speculate on the prospects of a united Opposition challenging the NDA next year.

No doubt that some efforts at forming yet another “front” are being explored (at least two have flopped in the past), but they appear to be floundering over whether to include the Congress in the fold. And that is a far cry from automatically expecting the front to have Rahul as its spearhead.

Why, they cannot even dine/march together of late, but Rahul has little time for such a reality check. Even though Mamata and Mayawati, to name just a couple of non-Congress leaders, keep sending out negative signals. Six or seven years ago the TINA factor (there is no alternative) favoured the under-performing UPA: the wheel now seems to have turned full circle.

Obviously the outcome of the polling in Karnataka later this week will heavily influence the way the political winds blow, yet even if the Congress retains control of Vidhana Soudha it would be Siddaramiah as much as Rahul who would have forced the Modi-Shah juggernaut to a halt ~ as Capt. Amarinder Singh did in Punjab.

Rahul’s personal track-record for leading election campaigns hardly warrant his bombast that the BJP would come a cropper ~ but elections are now a highly unprincipled affair, so anyone can say just about anything.

And even if he failsy et again there are none in the Congress who will challenge him and dare to project themselves as alternatives ~ not there are no others capable of doing so, as proven by the local leadership that did the trick in a few recent by-elections. Rahul like Barkis may be willin’, but there are far too many others who must say yes before the consummation he seeks can come to pass.