Modi, Rahul, Kejriwal Have Varied Styles
Rahul Gandhi's speeches have been increasingly targeted towards Modi, portraying him as a know-all, dictatorial leader with a communal mindset. Gandhi looks less grim than his BJP rival and delivers his speeches in a less serious and sarcastic tone. He talks about entitlements brought about by the Congress in the last 10 years and seeks to identify the party with the poor, the youth and the middle classes. Gandhi presents himself as a leader who likes to work by consultation and consensus, who values the opinion of others and wants to sort out problems through the process of accommodation. Gandhi appears keen to look informal, accessible and approachable. In some of his rallies he has dressed in jeans and a kurta-a sartorial combination popular across college and university campuses. Gandhi's speeches can appear repetitive to those who follow him closely. In his rallies, Gandhi has targeted Modi over the Gujarat model of development and snoopgate and the BJP over "divisive politics". He has also sought to present Congress as a unifying force whose heart is with the poor and which is keen to expand opportunities for every Indian.
Kejriwal speaks and dresses in the manner of the common man. Normally clad in a shirt and trouser, Kejriwal's delivery style is simple, direct and forthright. He seeks to avoid rhetorical flourishes and speaks like a man who does not want to indulge in the politics of compromise. Kejriwal does not move with heavy security and associated paraphernalia. Kejriwal speaks with confidence and seeks to link success and failure of his party with that of common man. He gives the impression of a leader detached from the privileges and perks of high office with a keen desire to end the problems of the people. Battling allegations of being a "quitter" after his AAP government resigned in less than two months of assuming power after the Delhi assembly elections, Kejriwal presents himself as a leader prepared to make any sacrifice for his principles.
His attacks on the Congress and BJP for their alleged cosiness with the corporates and his strong anti-corruption plank appears to have struck a chord with people. AAP is perhaps the only party in the country which has put up candidates on over 400 Lok Sabha seats in less than two years of its formation and looks poised to achieve status of a national party. Political analysts said that Modi, Gandhi and Kejriwal were trying to be strident in their own ways. Senior journalist B. G. Verghese said that people coming for rallies do not necessarily vote for the same party. "Each of them has his own style. Modi is asking votes for himself and is very strident in his stance and so is Rahul and Kejriwal. They also repeat themselves," Verghese told IANS. He said BJP has launched a concerted advertisement campaign and questions would be raised about the money involved. Subrata Mukherjee, a political analyst who taught at Delhi University, said Modi was the most impressive of the three leaders as "he has the punch". "He also answers charges leveled against him. He has developed the Gujarat model and has something to show which others do not. He carefully picks on the weak points of his opponents," Mukherjee told IANS.
Read More: 9 Best Life-changing Travel Movies of Bollywood
7 Immigrants Who Made It Big In India
