The Congress swan song under Rahul Gandhi could well be "Dil Se Re"

Every time Rahul Gandhi talks about his "dil ki awaaz" it must be sending shivers down the spine of Congressmen

For the umpteenth time Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has spoken of heeding his “dil” (heart or conscience, interpret it as you will). While reacting to the humungous defeat of the Congress party in four states, two of them Delhi and Rajasthan where they were completely routed, a kurta and jeans clad Gandhi said on Sunday at the All India Congress Committee headquarters, “We have heard the verdict of the people and I am listening to it not just with “dimag” but with my “dil”.

I guess, every time Rahul Gandhi talks about his “dil ki awaaz” it must be sending the shudders down the spine of many a Congressman with some even suffering a bout of severe heart burn.

On an earlier occasion he had also spoken of his “personal opinion” prompted possibly by his heart/ inner conscience – that was while trashing his own government’s ordinance on tainted politicians as “complete nonsense”.  It left the UPA deeply embarrassed and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh humiliated abroad. The Opposition moreover had a field day lambasting the 'ineffectual PM' who “did not even enjoy the confidence of his party leader.”

Addressing a rally in the poll bound state of Rajasthan at Churu, last month, Rahul Gandhi had again spoken “dil se.” Seeking to ‘connect’ with his audience there, he shocked many, when the Congress Vice President revealed a personal conversation with his mother Sonia Gandhi. Referring to an earlier speech where he had spoken of how his mother Sonia Gandhi who had suddenly taken ill, was more anxious about the Food Security Bill even though she was in hospital. "Meri ma ne kaha, meri kahani kyon sunate ho, apni kahani sunao... Is liye main aaj apni kahani sunaoonga, dil se baat karunga (My mother told me why do you tell my stories, you should tell yours... therefore, today I will tell you my story and will talk from the heart)," he added.

“My grandmother was killed. My father was assassinated and perhaps I may also be killed one day. I am not bothered. I had to tell you what I felt from the heart," Rahul Gandhi went onto say.

In Rajasthan, it would be crucial to point out, the Congress led government faced its worst ever defeat in the just concluded Assembly polls. Even though one might concede, that the state has a cyclical trend of alternating BJP and Congress terms every five years, the steep plunge from 96 seats to 21 cannot be brushed away as just anti- incumbency.

Congressman if it is to be believed, now cringe every time, Rahul Gandhi refers to the “dil” word. They would rather have the Congress scion display more robust leader ship qualities to give even the semblance of a fight against BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Congress wallahs lament the fact that Gandhi keeps harping on the Gandhi family lineage and its service to the nation when he should instead be charting out his vision to fulfill the aspirations of the youth of today’s India.

A long time Congress leader said, “At least now after this drubbing, Rahul Gandhi should wake up. Today’s electorate is no longer swayed by sympathy alone and all that ‘dil’ heart talk, they are far more astute. Voh dimag se kaam lete hain! (They look at things logically.)"