(Image source from: Sonia's first Telangana rally fails big time})
The indication of Congress' weakening clout in Telangana couldn't have been more loud and clear than this. Sonia Gandhi's maiden rally in the new state post the division provided shovel-loads example of the party's waning popularity in the region.
One would have expected the public meeting in the Telangana heartland of Karimnagar to be a resounding success with the crowds cheering lustily for Congress, which is partly responsible for Telangana today, besides TRS and BJP. Sadly, it turned out to be a no show for the party, a good omen for Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao whose public meetings have been a runaway success post-split.
Blame it on lack of coordination between Telangana Congress leaders, clamoring for Mrs. Gandhi's undivided attention, her lame, lack luster, 20 minutes short speech and lack of input from other Congress leaders that turned the rally into a damp squib.
Things like criticism of the BJP, the TRS, the TDP and the YSR Congress, the stoking of sentimental issues — all appeared to be passing references. Sonia Gandhi failed to launch any razor-sharp attack on the TRS, it's biggest opponent in the upcoming elections. One doubts this as Congress' strategy to rework it's knotty equation with the TRS post-election.
Just like Congress' old habit of asserting all's well even when things aren't good, the leaders attending the rally hailed the meeting as a huge success. Leaders, who walked on the dais, greeted Sonia with their trademark tricolor Congress khanduvas and paid obeisance by touching her feet.
The clumsy introduction of Lok Sabha contestants and select leaders by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Ponnala Laxmaiah killed the joy as the leaders dashed to the dais hurriedly, lacking impact.
In between the goof-ups and chaos, the euphoria and enthusiasm within the crowds died. The Congress' failure to summon all its strength in an impactful way and failure to highlight the elections as David vs Goliath fight went lame with the audience. The leaders clearly failed to establish any emotional connect with the people.
The party's failure to get a dignified number of audience to attend the public meeting and the delinquent second-rung of leadership are to be blamed for the poor show in yesterday's meeting.
The Congress plans to host more rallies — two with Sonia Gandhi and five of Rahul Gandhi — during the electioneering. Will the Telangana Congress leaders take a lesson from their first goof-up and pull their socks up to make the rest of the public meetings a success or put up another lame show is only a conjecture.
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
