A die-hard Rahul loyalist puts it in perspective. He says, “It is relatively easier to get rid of the addiction of attachment, but the addiction of detachment is very difficult to overcome. One cannot definitely tell what causes a sense of detachment in our leader. We could know only when he opens up, perhaps in an autobiographical note at an appropriate time.”

The loyalist adds, “A political leader of the stature of Rahul, who once said ‘power is poison’, should also understand that despite the sense of detachment he might be feeling at times, the 12-13 crore voters expect him to be among them, directly or indirectly without doing a sudden disappearing act. After all, he has picked politics as the means of serving the people.”

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If not perfect in all departments, the Congress workers believe that through Rahul, the party has been able to focus consistently and aggressively on the Congress-BJP-RSS binary, but also admit that the leader should widen the sphere for the benefit of the party. “Rahul Gandhi is the only leader who has taken a direct position on the BJP-RSS. Has Mamata and any other opposition leader, done it? Did Mamata say it when she was prodded in Mumbai?” asked a Congress leader.

In New Delhi, Rahul, fresh from Mamata’s fresh attack, continued to surprise his supporters and adversaries. He chose to ignore the West Bengal CM and instead attacked the PM over the demand for compensation for the kin of farmers who died in the agitation against the now-repealed farm laws. He has promised to raise the issue on Monday in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, which in its first week, saw the Mamata-led TMC refusing to be part of the activities conceived and led by the Congress. Under such circumstances, Rahul’s legislative participation will again be watched keenly.

Meantime in Maharashtra, Mamata’s visit turned out to be a storm in a teacup. The Congress, a partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, expressed its displeasure in no uncertain terms, keeping the allies in a cautionary mode. The Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar clarified that the effort was to bring all anti-BJP parties together, but nudged Rahul adding that hard work always pays off, and Mamata has proven it in West Bengal. The Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Saamna lambasted Mamata for announcing the early demise of the United Progressive Alliance and her efforts for creating a similar front without the Congress. It said any such attempt would amount to strengthening the BJP further ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP enjoyed the episode and attempted to widen the rift between the Congress and Pawar.

Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore

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