Is Modi Scared of Debating Rahul Gandhi?
It is often said that you should never fight with a pig. You will end up smelling bad, and the pig will win the fight in terms of public perception. This notion is in line with my personal view of the current political scenario in India.
Media and Thesaurized Personality
The media and a well-established political dynasty, the Congress, have created an image where Rahul Gandhi, also known as Pappu, is the natural heir to the Prime Ministership (PM). However, the reality is quite different. Even renowned Supreme Court lawyer, Ram Jethmalani, once famously called Rahul Gandhi unsuitable for even a clerical position in his office, which speaks volumes about his incompetence.
His communicative style is often described as hit-and-run, and his recent election strategy of doles and catchy slogans, such as 'Kata Kata', clearly exhibits a lack of substantive policy planning. The Congress party, in its desperation to regain power, is willing to risk the country's future with its poorly thought-out election manifesto, despite the electorate's largely low literacy rates.
Recent Opportunities and Missing Out
Rahul had the perfect opportunity to debate Modi on the floor of the Lok Sabha, which is explicitly designed for such discussions. Instead of leveraging this platform, he opted for mere handshakes, winks, and romantic gestures. There was no logic, rhetoric, or oratory skills displayed, suggesting that Rahul's campaign strategy may be more about emotional appeal rather than policy debates.
In 2014, during the challenging campaign against the Congress party, Modi did not engage his opponents on substantive issues; he was focused on ensuring that his style and message resonated with the masses. Similarly, Modi might be avoiding debates with Rahul Gandhi due to the risk of being exposed to embarrassing, sappy nonsense that could undermine his image further.
Political Strategy and Personal Abilities
Rahul, as an ordinary MP candidate, and Modi, as both an MP and the PM candidate, have different benchmarks. Leaders, especially in a competitive landscape like politics, do not waste time engaging with those trailing them. Winning a debate does not confer an additional advantage, whereas even losing can be beneficial for a candidate like Rahul, as loss can generate sympathy and media attention.
The same logic applies to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who similarly refused to participate in Republican debates, preferring to engage directly with the voters and concentrate on his campaign rallies. Debates, especially in the Indian context, are not effective as vote-pullers. Only a small fraction of the middle-class, urban, English-speaking population, approximately 0.05%, cares about them, and even they are unlikely to vote as a result of debates.
Conclusion: Personal Abilities and Media Perception
The debate between Modi and Rahul Gandhi is more about media perception and strategy than actual policy discussions. Modi, a master of media campaigns, might be avoiding direct debates to maintain his image. Rahul Gandhi, however, might be more comfortable in the limelight, where he can draw sympathy and media attention, even if his policy proposals are weak.
Final Thoughts
A true measure of a leader is their ability to respond to situations on the fly and think critically. If an actor like Amitabh Bachchan can confidently ignore an invitation to act with someone of lesser talent, it is not because he is afraid. Similarly, Modi's approach to debates should be seen through the lens of strategic advantage and media perception, rather than substantive policy discourse.