‘Silent’ at hustings, Rahul mum after results too

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi refused to comment on Haryana and Maharashtra elections for the second day running, continuing to trigger a discussion on social media and among party leaders about his silence.

As Congress defied the predictions of doom to perform well in Haryana and hold its tally in Maharashtra, the general commentary revolved around the opposition party’s better-than-expected show after the Lok Sabha decimation. There was former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for reviving the party in Haryana. The AICC too patted itself in the back with a press conference.

However, Rahul has not issued a statement or tweeted about the election result.


The silence is being seen in the backdrop of Rahul’s support for Hooda’s bete noire, Ashok Tanwar. Rahul had persisted with Tanwar in defiance of protests from Hooda who often found himself out of the loop on organisational matters.

Hooda regained prominence only after Rahul quit as party president and was soon projected as party’s face for CM. In a reversal of fortunes, Tanwar found himself marginalised and, eventually, quit the party after levelling serious allegations against Hooda.

Rahul’s involvement in the campaigns for Maharashtra and Haryana was of a pro forma nature.