Smriti Irani on Rahul Gandhi’s ‘changed’ politics: ‘He thinks he’s tasted success’
NEW DELHI, AUG 29 : In a candid assessment of her arch rival Rahul Gandhi, former Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani said that the Congress leader believes he has “tasted success” and is now engaging in a different style of political manoeuvring.
“When he talks about caste, when he wears a white T-shirt in Parliament, he’s aware of what kind of message it sends to the youth,” Irani said in a recent podcast appearance.
Irani alleged that the Gandhi scion makes “calculated moves” to appeal to specific demographics. She cautioned against underestimating Gandhi’s line of attack, saying, “So we shouldn’t be under the misconception about his actions – whether you find them good, bad, or childish – they are a different kind of politics.”
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The BJP leader also took the opportunity to criticise the Congress party’s past attempts to engage in what has been termed “soft Hindutva,” including Gandhi’s high-profile temple run during election season.
Irani argued that these efforts did not resonate with voters and were met with scepticism. She also claimed that Gandhi’s newfound political success had evolved from this “unsuccessful” tactic.
“Rahul Gandhi did not get any traction from his temple visits. It became the butt of jokes. Some people found it deceitful. So when this strategy did not work, they switched to caste issues to gain traction,” Irani stated.
According to Irani, these moves are part of a broader strategy aimed at maintaining Gandhi’s relevance in Indian politics.
The former Amethi MP accused Gandhi of using provocative statements to stay in the public eye, citing his recent controversial remark about the lack of Dalit or Adivasi contestants in Miss India.
“He knows that Miss India has nothing to do with forming the government, but he still says things like that on social media. Because it makes the headlines,” she said.
Irani questioned the sincerity of Gandhi’s ideology, suggesting that his statements are part of a calculated strategy rather than genuine beliefs. “These are not his beliefs, this is all just part of a strategy,” she stated.
-PTI
