Speaking from the party’s Naya Raipur plenary, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told party workers to be accommodative and continue the tapasya that will bring about a political change in the country. Picking bits and pieces from his Bharat Jodo Yatra, he narrated his experience of carrying his home--a perimeter that was reserved for his safekeeping during the yatra—to invite one and all to interact and understand their thoughts. He spoke about shedding his ahankar (ego), and how he soon began to speak in the people’s voice, instead of pouring out his own gyaan. The message was clear: if you think the yatra has infused new life in the party, take the struggle forward; be one among the people, not celebrities; be ready for any kind of sacrifice, give your sweat and blood to the party. It was a loaded call for the Congress’s rank and file across the country from a person who has earned the right to preach it. It came from a naya (made-over) Rahul, who continues to be the top-most Congress leader despite Mallikarjun Kharge being the party’s official president, and his mother Sonia stepping into the advisor’s role.

Rahul’s address must have been watched keenly by the rest of the Opposition, which the Congress has asked to stand together as one unit in fighting the Bharatiya Janata Party. Obviously, the Congress felt that the third front, if any, would be an advantage to the BJP. The Congress has resolved that “it would identify, mobilise and align like-minded secular forces”. And if the ‘third front-less’ Opposition unity were to happen, the Congress will have to shed its ahankar that some political observers say might have crept into the party’s decision-making circles, basically because of the boost Rahul’s effort has given.