The curious case of brand Rahul®

One of the most bewildering features about Brand Rahul® is how it occupies only two standard positions in public perception: Boo! and Yaay! There seems to be nothing in between available on the dial. Let us elaborate. Rahul Gandhi is seen as being 'over', past his expiry date even before he expires, gone, kaput, politically pfft... every time he doesn't make a 'comeback', or isn't seen by every Congress worker and their valet as the Messiah, or doesn't get a chance to be credited with a Congress assembly election victory (because Congress lost). Or, on the Yaay! side, he is seen as finally having come into his own, or finally turning things around, or at the cusp of something paradigm-shifting in politics. In other words, either Boo! or Yaay! Never anything in between as is the case with other mortals, politicians included.

With the wicked curse lifted - Rahul's reinstatement as Lok Sabha MP by the Supreme Court and return to Parliament on Tuesday - Brand Rahul® is back in that slot that sees the parliamentarian as a giant David pitched forever against a Goliath. But if you're not one of those exaggerators who either think Rahul's 'return' this time will pave the way for a new paved path, or that he is as good as a damaged .MP3, know this - Rahul Gandhi as MP again means one singular thing: he is MP again. Nothing less, nothing more.